Caroline Shelquist had no trouble showing off her sports’ skills.

The senior outside hitter had a double-double and one kick save to lead Minnetonka past Hopkins 16-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21 in a Lake Conference clash Thursday at Minnetonka High School.

Shelquist finished with 14 kills and 11 digs.

“Caroline was a big part of our offense last year,” Skippers’ coach Karl Katzenberger said. “This season, she’s the kid that everybody in the whole gym knows (is) getting the ball when it comes down to the end."

Shelquist said she focused on using her line shot to help defeat the Royals.

“That was our specific strategy this game, to hit line and put the setter in distress,” Shelquist said.

Minnetonka’s three-year varsity veteran is also a dominant basketball player and took last season off from playing with her club volleyball team to focus on basketball, where she guided the Skippers to the Section 6AAAA finals.

Returning to volleyball was an easy decision for Shelquist.

“She’s such a good athlete she probably could’ve taken two years off,” Katzenberger said.

Shelquist showed her soccer skills early the second set against the Royals. A shanked pass rocketed off the net, and Shelquist stuck out her foot, kicking the ball up and allowing her teammates to send it over the net.

“It’s been a natural reaction lately," Shelquist said. "I don’t know what it is."

Shelquist credits the kick save to playing soccer from preschool until seventh grade.

“I don’t know about her soccer skills,” Katzenberger said. “That was a funny play, just one of those reaction plays that athletes have. It was lucky, certainty, but it was cool to see the ball never die.”

Shelquist said she doesn’t know whether she will play volleyball or basketball in college next year. Her focus at the moment is on Minnetonka’s next match and finishing the season strong.

“We lost a lot of great seniors last year and we were underrated coming in but conference play isn’t even half over, so we got to keep pushing Tuesday night at Eden Prairie,” she said.

Shelquist desperately wants a victory over Eden Prairie to help soothe the wounds from last basketball season. The Eagles ended Skippers’ season in the section finals.

Senior outside hitter Caroline Shelquist had 14 kills and 11 digs to lead Minnetonka past Hopkins 16-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21 in a Lake Conference matchup Thursday at Minnetonka High School.

Senior right hitter Elyse Wanzenried and junior middle hitter Lauren Mershon helped the Skippers' record two solo blocks and 14 blocking assists while sophomore setter Isabelle Aragon-Menzel had 38 assists and two aces for Minnetonka (7-1).

Sophomore outside hitter Jasmyn Martin finished with seven kills for Hopkins (5-4), ranked No. 8 in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association's Class 3A poll.

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