Wapahani Senior Closes Volleyball Career On a High Note
Marin Hopkins discovered her natural ability for the sport of volleyball at a young age. Throughout her school years, it has been an important part of her life. Yet she has maintained a balance by being involved in other areas of interest. As a senior at Wapahani High School, she has finished her volleyball career with a renewed sense of joy for the game she loves.
“I was introduced to volleyball in the third grade. I started off doing little camps, then club volleyball and school teams. Playing volleyball gave me comfort and confidence. It was a natural thing. It’s been my one love,” Hopkins says.
Her primary position is outside hitter, but as a senior she also took on the role of defensive specialist (DS). An outside hitter must have strong jumping and hitting skills, along with the ability to powerfully hit the ball and send it to the most advantageous spot. Most importantly, an outside hitter must stop opponents’ attacks.
As a DS, Hopkins was situated in the back row and focused purely on defense. A DS player must always be on guard, reacting quickly with agility. Outstanding digging skills, strong ball control and the ability to pass with accuracy are essential.
In her senior season, Hopkins’ love of the game translated into high-ranking statistics. She is lauded for her number of kills, which are plays that land the ball in the opponent’s court and cannot be returned, ensuring a point for the team. Accumulating 325 kills, along with other hits this season, earned her a spot among the top 118 players in Indiana, the top 30 in Class 2A and the top three for two statistics in the Mid-Eastern Conference. She was also named Player of the Match multiple times.
“I absolutely love the team aspect. I owe my teammates a lot of credit,” Hopkins says. “They are the success factor. Volleyball is very much a team sport. It doesn’t matter what level of skill players have individually, everyone needs each other 100%. Being part of a team is the highlight for me. I’ve made lifelong friends, and I take more pride in being a teammate than any individual successes.”
When asked to name a high point in her volleyball experiences, Hopkins points to her junior year, when her team advanced to the state championship. However, that success also came with pressure. Hopkins says she lost her “spark” and did not plan to play again her senior year.
“At the time I was going to Yorktown High School. The head volleyball coach there suggested I join WAVE Volleyball Club,” Hopkins says. “I did and found my light again. A lot of the players were from Selma and went to Wapahani. I wouldn’t have played my senior year if I hadn’t found that chemistry again.
“It was hard to leave Yorktown, but I made the challenging decision to transfer to Wapahani. I’m still on great terms with everyone at Yorktown, and it was tough to make the announcement. Going to Wapahani has been absolutely perfect. I found joy again.”
Hopkins is involved in several other activities. She works at 7 Brew Coffee Shop, where she does a little bit of everything, from making espresso drinks to serving customers. Each Friday, she attends Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the library. She has also been involved in raising money for several women’s causes, including women’s shelters and women’s cancer research.
“If I was going to name a mentor, I would have to say it’s my mom,” she says. “She has been a true guiding light through all the ups and downs. She knew when to push me and has celebrated with me through all the successes. I think it’s important to keep your identity outside of sports. Know yourself, because it’s easy to lose sight of who you are outside of sports. Nurture every relationship.
“I graduated at semester and will go to Ball State University. I hope to be a dental hygienist and go to dental school,” Hopkins says. “I’ll be working at Rector Family Dental and Orthodontics in Muncie to be sure it’s a field I’d like. I want to focus on my grades, so I won’t be playing college-level volleyball, but I might participate in intramural volleyball. Maybe in the future I will coach.”
