MENAHGA – Nicole Skoog and Jodi Tolkkinen will look to use their experience as college players to make Menahga’s volleyball team a successful program.
Skoog was a setter for Finlandia University from 2015 to 2018, while Tolkkinen was a libero for St. Clair Community College from 2016 to 2017. Tolkkinen also coached the Braves’ C team last season while also serving as JO coach for Menahga and Woodbury.
“Nicole and I are very excited for the opportunity to coach Menahga Volleyball this year,” said Tolkkinen. “As coaches, we hope to improve the individual and team skills of our players. We hope to develop well-rounded players through continuous support and training throughout the year. We also hope to build a strong fan base and create a positive atmosphere around the program in our local community.”
The Braves must replace two key players with the departures of Erica Tormanen and Janelle Hendrickson. Tormanen led Menahga with 155 kills and was second on the team with 221 digs while serving 27 aces and recording 13 blocks as an outside hitter, earning Park Region Conference honors. Hendrickson followed with 124 kills and was second on the team in blocks with 17 while recording 166 digs and 27 aces as an outside hitter, earning honorable mention as an all-conference player.
The Braves will again be led this fall by seniors Maddie Hendrickson, Anna Pietila, Leah Weaver and Isabel Lake, juniors Malena Hendrickson, Eliana Jettmann, Hailey Peterson and Elise Torola and sophomore Mayme Pinoneimi. Pietila and Weaver also received honorable mention All-Conference honors last season.
Weaver returns as a middle blocker after posting 106 kills, 42 blocks (team-leading), 25 ace serves and 49 digs, while Pietila returns as a starting point guard after leading the team with 425 set assists and 39 ace serves with 160 digs, 36 kills and 14 blocks. Maddie Hendrickson led the Braves with 256 digs and contributed 24 ace serves and 14 kills as a libero. Malena Hendrickson had 31 kills, 23 digs and 11 ace serves as a middle blocker.
Jettmann (66 digs) and Torola (62 digs, five aces, five kills) were used as defensive specialists in the first team. Peterson (28 kills, 11 digs) and Lake (nine digs) stepped in as hitters, while Mayme Pinoniemi (five digs) was used as a substitute setter.
The Braves lost 14 of their final 15 games and finished the season with a record of 1-6 in the conference and 5-19 overall. Menahga received the No. 13 seed for the Section 8AA tournament and opened the playoffs with a win over No. 4 seed Perham.
Wadena-Deer Creek won the conference title with a score of 7-0, while Verndale and Sebeka tied for second at 5-2. Henning finished 4-3, while New York Mills and Bertha-Hewitt finished 3-4 for fourth. Pillager rounded out the Park Region standings at 0-7.
Kiana Skoog, Grace Bakke and Brandi Novak want to fight for playing time on the varsity team.
“We understand that it is a process to turn around a program, but we have high hopes that we will see changes early this season,” Tolkkinen said. “We have had the opportunity to work with girls who have a great work ethic and willingness to learn. The hard work is just beginning, but we are confident it will pay off this season.”
1982 graduate of Dawson-Boyd High School
1987 graduate of Moorhead State University
Sports reporter for Park Rapids Enterprise since 1987
