50th Anniversary of 1975 Fosston Volleyball Team

FRONT ROW left to right – Beth Jesness, Bonnie Halvorson, Lorraine Olson, Marlene Johnson, Kim Carlin, and Ranae Mireault. BACK ROW – Anita Quam, student manager, Deaun Veum, Gail Hilliard, Cindy Kolling, Julie Daniels, Tammy Jackson, Sue Nelson, student manager, and Head Coach Berniece Carlin.

Fosston, MN — Fifty years ago, the Fosston Greyhounds volleyball team made history. The 1975 squad became the first Fosston volleyball team to reach the State Tournament, a milestone that still echoes in the halls of the school and the hearts of the community.

On Thursday, September 25th, the 1975 team was honored before the Fosston vs. Win-E-Mac volleyball match, celebrating that groundbreaking season. Fosston finished the regular season with a 12-2 record, dominating many opponents with 10 straight-set victories. In the District Tournament, the Greyhounds swept Ada, Fertile-Beltrami, and Mahnomen, before taking down Red Lake Falls and Walker in the Region 8A Tournament to earn a 17-2 record heading into state.

That remarkable season set the foundation for a program that would see 12 State Tournament appearances, including Class A State Championships in 2001, 2002, and 2004, and runner-up finishes in 1989, 1993, and 2000. The program’s most recent trip to the state tournament came in 2019, but for the 1975 team, that first appearance will always hold a special place in Fosston’s volleyball history.

Listen below as R&J Sports Director Tom Lano sits down with some of the members of the 1975 Fosston Greyhounds volleyball team, reminiscing about their unforgettable journey.