Photograph by Jake McNeill. Minneota's Sarah Gruenes (5) and Elivia Faris (9) make blocks within the Part 3A North semifinals towards Renville County West on Oct. 29 in Marshall.
SF. PAUL — Coming into the 2024 Class A state match for the sixth time in seven seasons, the Minneota Vikings volleyball crew will look to make a deep run after lacking the 2023 match and return to the state title match with the younger her listing. week in St. Paul on the Xcel Power Middle.
Minneota enters because the No. 1 seed. 2 with a 24-10 general document and is coming off a season-high 7-game successful streak. The Vikings defeated Westbrook-Walnut Grove within the Part 3A championship over the weekend.
“I'm excited for the youngsters and so they've earned it” Minneota head coach Hayley Fruin stated. “They've labored actually exhausting so I'm glad they've put it collectively now.”
Minneota didn’t make the 2023 state match after falling to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton within the sectional semifinals. RTR was eradicated from state competitors this season after a loss to WWG within the sectional semifinals.
Nonetheless, the Vikings will compete to avenge final yr's missed alternative in hopes of reclaiming their championship run in 2022. Minneota was additionally the runner-up in 2021 earlier than falling to Mayer Lutheran , who’s seeded at this yr's match.
“[We] attempt to focus solely on the day-to-day, as an alternative of specializing in the tip purpose.” Fruin stated. “I'm attempting to take it out little by little and hopefully that takes among the stress off these youngsters.”
Fruin has a core 4 on her roster who had been on the 2022 state championship crew and can look to them to assist the crew. Seniors Nevaeh Hennen and Elivia Faris, together with juniors Abigail Rolbiecki and Sarah Gruenes are additionally the oldest of the bunch.
“They’ve been right here earlier than. They’ve expertise right here and received a state earlier than,” Fruin stated. “Hopefully they will maintain the stress off the youthful guys however don't attempt to put all of it on them both. Be certain it's a crew effort and ensure everybody's simply enjoying with some confidence.”
Minneota will start play tonight towards no. 7 Ely, making his third consecutive look. The Timberwolves enter with a 27-Three general document and are coming off a 14-game successful streak, all however two of which have been swept.
“I feel we work very properly as a crew. I've additionally heard from different folks that we simply circulation as a crew. We transfer and are in a position to fill gaps and choose up the seams when we have to.” stated Ely head coach Megan Wognum. “I feel it comes all the way down to our ladies placing within the time within the offseason. I attribute a variety of that to their ardour for the game.”
Each Ely and Minneota completed the common season undefeated in convention play.
The Timberwolves fell to Mayer Lutheran the previous two seasons within the first spherical of the state match, which was the runner-up each instances.
“I feel actually it simply comes all the way down to the primary ball. I feel as soon as they get right into a rhythm, I feel it'll be high quality.” stated Wognum. “[I’m] ensuring they're reminded that it's a wild ambiance, nevertheless it's an honor to be right here and also you've simply bought to profit from it.”
The opening match between the 2 might be a battle of younger rosters. Like Minneota, Ely has two seniors, two juniors and 7 sophomores.
Clare Thomas and Lille Rechichi are seniors and have been on the crew within the final two state rounds.
“It's only a very younger crew. So there's some nerves that go together with that.” stated Wognum. “It's good to have Clare and Lille to place the youthful youngsters on the bottom and simply inform them it's an enormous deal, however if you're on the ground you simply need to concentrate on what you're right here to do.”
For Minneota, Fruin stated the offense is what the crew might want to keep centered.
“I go and I serve, and I say that on a regular basis, nevertheless it's so extremely vital. If we will keep aggressive behind the service line after which restrict our errors,” Fruin stated. “There are occasions once we can go for large runs, however then we permit the opposite crew to go for large runs, so we focus just a little bit extra on that and restrict the opposite crew's runs whereas attempting to capitalize on ours. “
For Ely, will probably be the defensive finish that Wognum will look to strengthen.
“I positively suppose we're going to be challenged just a little bit defensively. I feel now we have to work on staying down and extra ready than we expect we’re.” stated Wognum. “Defensive work is certainly one thing we at all times follow and one thing we will at all times enhance on.”
Past the seniors on every crew, there are different gamers that every coach will look to to be leaders this week.
“Eden Meagher, he performed final yr and bought to the part remaining, so he's been in a variety of stress video games and conditions like that,” Fruin stated. “So I'm in search of her to step up. She's a six spin participant for the time being and she or he's hitting good photographs as properly.”
Ely's Audrey Kallberg leads the crew in digs, blocks and is second in kills behind Rechichi.
“Our center hitter, Audrey Kallberg, has been one to select individuals up once they're down and she or he's been in a position to lead them,” stated Wognum. “[Kallberg] it exhibits that it's okay to believe and it's okay to imagine that you are able to do it even if you really feel like these nerves are taking on.”
The Vikings and Timberwolves met earlier this season on Sept. 20 on the Burnsville Event, the place Minneota received 2-Zero in units of 25-16 and 25-20.
“I'm excited to play Minneota. I've watched our sport movie and watched a few of their video games and it's enjoyable to observe them play. They’ve a stable block, they’ve very sturdy hitters. It's one thing we don't at all times see the place we dwell.” stated Wognum. “I feel if we come mentally ready and defensively ready, I feel we will deal with something.”
Fruin doesn't take a look at the win in September as a build-up of any type and creates a mindset for the crew that the earlier competitors doesn’t replicate what they are going to see this week.
“We're younger and so they're younger and so they've solely gotten higher. They beat some actually good groups within the state.” Fruin stated. “We simply return in September and discuss that sport, however realizing now we have to play rather a lot higher as a result of they're getting higher as properly.”
All gamers on each groups are wholesome with no accidents recorded in match play.
Minneota and Ely will maintain courtroom two on the Xcel Power Middle at 7pm tonight. The winner will face the winner of No. 1 New Life Academy in Woodbury on Friday at Three p.m. Three and from Fillmore Central no.