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Hopkins' hopes for season remain high following victory over Edina

By Peter Odney, SportsEngine, 09/15/16, 7:15AM CDT

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The Royals seem well-positioned to overcome the obstacles that have hampered their success in the past.

Jasmyn

Hopkins senior Jasmyn Martin (1) recorded one of her 15 kills with this shot past Edina's Lauren Turner (10) and Annika Jank (14). Hopkins beat Edina in three sets. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Tara Lee

Tara Lee (13) couldn't handle this play at the net, but the junior setter paced Hopkins with 29 assists. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Hopkins seems well-positioned to reach the echelon of elite volleyball program. 

Several key weapons are back from last year's injury-marred campaign, giving the Royals the experience, depth and talent to overcome the obstacles that have stunted the team's rise in previous seasons.

“To get deep into the season, you have to be good, which we are, you have to be healthy, which so far we are, and sometimes you have to be lucky,” Hopkins coach Vicki Swenson said after her team swept Lake Conference rival Edina in straight sets on Thursday night. 

Swenson said that the 25-11, 25-18, 25-22 road victory didn’t fully showcase the Royals' true strengths. 

“We didn’t get to it tonight, but usually we move our hitters quite a bit,” said Swenson, adding that Hopkins has talent up and down its lineup. “You didn’t see it tonight, but we have a really deep bench as well, kids who can come in and contribute.”

It's combination that's resulted in a strong start, as the Royals have lost just four sets this season en route to a 7-0 record and a No. 5 ranking in the latest Class 3A coaches’ poll. 

While Hopkins may not have displayed all of its attributes in Thursday night's matchup with Edina (7-3, 0-2), the Royals offered glimpses of the talent that's got them believing this could be their year.

Senior outside hitter Jasmyn Martin had a game-high 15 kills, giving the Minnesota commit 111 this season.

The match also provided the team with a lesson on what can happen when it doesn't keep its focus, as the Royals allowed the Hornets to hang around in the second and third sets after dominating the first. 

“The second set, I think were just overconfident and we didn’t have the same fire from the first set,” said senior outside hitter Greta Werner, who had 11 kills the win. 

An all-Lake Conference pick last season, Werner is performing at a high level this year and already has 59 kills. She said the Royals are thrilled to be playing with an almost totally health lineup. 

“We have high expectations for ourselves,” said Werner, adding that Hopkins hopes to advance further in this year’s state tournament after being bounced in the first round last season by Prior Lake.

Tara Lee handed out 29 assists on Tuesday, and the junior setter said having a roster filled with versatile players will help the Royals reach their goals this season. 

Hopkins also will benefit from playing in a tight match against a ranked opponent, as it defeated No. 4-3A Wayzata in five sets on Sept. 13.

“Wayzata was kind of our first test this season and they really pushed us to our limits,” Lee said. “We just (said) we’re not going to go down like this. We’re going to keep fighting and that’s what we did.”

With the Royals remaining relatively healthy and boasting a lineup with experience, talent and depth, the team has no excuses for not achieving its goals and becoming known as one of the state's top programs, Werner said. 

“This year, we have no reason why we can’t be successful,” she said.

First Report

Outside hitter Jasmyn Martin racked up a game-high 10 kills, and Hopkins held off a late surge by Edina to record a 25-11, 25-18, 25-22 victory in Lake Conference action Thursday night at Edina High School. 

Fellow senior outside hitter Greta Werner added 11 kills for the Royals (7-0, 2-0), ranked No. 5 in the Class 3A state coaches' poll, while teammate junior setter Tara Lee dished out 29 assists. 

Kate Glavan, a senior outside hitter, led the Hornets (7-3, 0-2) with 10 kills.  

Werner

Senior Greta Werner recorded 11 kills for the unbeaten Royals. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

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