Spike in changes pays off for Hopkins volleyball

Despite having the consensus best player in the state — also her daughter — on her team, Hopkins volleyball coach Vicki Swenson wasn't satisfied with her team's play entering last weekend's prestigious Apple Valley Eagle Invitational.

So she made some changes.

"I experimented with some lineups and forced some things," Swenson said. "We shook some things up, got a little younger and we played really well."

So well that the Royals took home the championship trophy, defeating No. 1-ranked Eden Prairie 13-25, 25-16, 15-12 in the finals.

"That is a tough tournament," said Swenson of a field that included the top-ranked teams in all three classes. "Sometimes it's harder to win that than the state tournament."

While the tweaks improved the on-court play, it was two places Swenson didn't touch that made the difference.

Samantha Seliger Swenson remained in her setter position, doing her usual job of turning difficult passes into usable sets.

Swenson has also been defying conventional logic by allowing 6-3 outside hitter Jasmyn (Jaz) Martin to play a full rotation to take advantage of her athleticism and ability to attack from the back row.

"Jaz is a big threat from the front row when she hits. On her first arm-swing in the finals, the whole crowd gasped because it's so powerful," Swenson said. "But she's been very determined to become a six-rotation player. She surprises people with her defense and keeping her in gives us a better rhythm to our attack."

Hopkins will host a big tournament of its own Saturday at the Lingbergh Center. But Vicki Swenson will need to take an hour or so away because, for the second time, the Hopkins coach will conduct a wedding.

She became licensed to do so last fall, officiating a ceremony for a longtime friend. She thought it was a one-time thing until she received a similar request from former Hopkins player and current assistant coach Leah Neubeck, who is marrying her high school sweetheart, Peter Elsham.