Viking girls open Tuesday at BOLD

When the Minneota State Volleyball team held interviews after the State Championship, one reporter asked, “Do any of you play basketball?” There were chuckles all-around when one of them said, “Well all do.”

Then, when they returned to Minneota for the Homecoming Celebration, Coach Chad Johnston said, “We have a game coming right up,” so he was anxious to convert his girls from state championship volleyball players to a state contending basketball team.

They open the season on Tuesday at Olivia against BOLD. Then they swing into Camden Conference action at home against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton. It happens quickly, added coach Johnston. Minneota, of-course, coming off a run to third place in Class A last year, will be one of the favorites this year.

They lost to state champ Lyle/Austin Pacelli in the semifinals and beat Mountain Iron-Buhl in the third place game. Coming right off the volleyball squad and onto the basketball court will of-course be Lydia Sussner, Morgan and Abby Hennen, Natalee Rolbiecki, Abby Rost, Lizzy Gillingham, Rachel Vlaminck and perhaps others.

The team may have to go without Gillingham, who is nursing the ankle she hurt in the state tournament. Otherwise, the starting lineup of Sussner, the Hennens, Rolbiecki and Gillingham will swing into action at Olivia on Tuesday.