Senior Abby Hennen and junior Natalie Rolbiecki are outside hitters with arms that double as rocket launchers. They have the ability to hammer the ball with the sort of g-force you might experience in, say, a skydiving freefall or space shuttle joyride. But, by all accounts, it was defense that got the job done for Minneota in last year’s Class 1A championship game sweep of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown — a match that included 90 digs. The state title was the second straight for the Vikings, who have appeared 13 state tournaments in this century.
Offense, defense, and the return of Hennen and Rolbiecki, makes Minneota, ranked No. 1 in the Class 1A coaches' poll from Oct. 25, a full-service juggernaut once again. The Vikings (3-0, 0-0) have swept all three of their opponents this season, including last Thursday’s 25-11, 25-11, 25-13 triumph over Dawson-Boyd.
Kasson-Mantorville (3-2, 3-1) is also a state tournament regular, having made three appearances in the last four years. The No. 5-2A KoMets opened the season with losses to No. 1-2A Stewartville (3-1 on Oct. 8) and No. 3-2A Concordia Academy (3-0 on Oct. 10) but have gone unbeaten since.
Senior Noelle VanOort is Kasson-Mantorville’s leader in kills. She had a game-high 24 kills in the loss to Stewartville.