Roseville volleyball coach Greg Ueland and his staff have been urging the Raiders to think like champions. In Roseville's matchup with Hopkins Wednesday night, the Raiders played like champions.

Roseville, No. 8 in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association's Week 2 rankings, withstood a late rally from No. 4 Hopkins and Miss Volleyball candidate Samantha Seliger-Swenson as the Raiders upset the Royals 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 15-25, 19-17 at Hopkins High School.  

“I never questioned their effort, but we’ve been really challenging them to go to that next level and think of themselves as champions," Ueland said, "I feel like tonight, we won a lot of the big points." 

Especially in the fifth game where there was eight ties and six lead changes before Roseville (2-1) secured the two-point victory.

The Raiders may have struggled after winning the first two games but they never lost their confidence even as the Royals battled back to take the next two games, Ueland said.

“We just needed to hang in there," Ueland said "That’s what we kept telling them, ‘Just hang in there for the long hall, we’re going to get our opportunities.'"

Roseville took advantage of its opportunities including senior middle hitter Monica Burich, who finished with 15 kills and eight blocks. Junior libero Haley Kauth had 27 digs and senior outside hitter Nina Carmichael-Tanaka recorded 22 for the Raiders. Sophomore setter Bre Maloney had 12 digs and several key assists for Roseville.

Seliger-Swenson, a senior setter who is one of the nation's top players, and highly skilled sophomore outside hitter Jasmyn Martin along with a roster with seven other seniors make Hopkins a formidable foe, especially at home.

However, the Raiders weren't fazed by the Royals' lineup and used the matchup as motivation, Kauth said.

“The team took it as a big challenge,” Kauth said. “It was so much more fun, because it gave you that motivation to want to dig her (Martin) because she’s so good and stop Sam (Seliger-Swenson) because it’s a big deal to stop Miss Volleyball.”     

Maloney knows how difficult it can be to stop players of Martin's ability. The pair play on the same club team.

Maloney said she enjoys playing against her club teammates.

“It’s more competitive and it’s more fun," Maloney said. "It’s more fun to beat them.” 

The Raiders lost to the Royals in each of the past two seasons and this year's victory provides Roseville with a morale boost, Ueland said. 

“Anytime we can beat elite teams, I definitely feel like it builds your confidence,” he said. 

Senior middle hitter Monica Burich had 15 kills and eight blocks and junior libero Haley Kauth finished with 27 digs as Roseville upset Hopkins 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 15-25, 19-17 Wednesday night at Hopkins High School's Lindberg Center. 

Senior outside hitter Nina Carmichael-Tanaka had 22 digs while sophomore setter Bre Maloney had 12 digs for the Raiders, who are ranked No. 8 in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association's Week 2 poll. The Royals are No. 4.

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