She's barely five-feet tall - that is when she's not jumping up and down on a volleyball court. When Hopper's in her usual position on the back row, she's about half her normal size. But the senior's impact on her team was nothing short of huge this season.
Hopper was recently named the Region III-2A Player of the Year and will be competing in the North/South All-Star games this weekend in Greenwood. The diminutive senior was also selected to the CAWS All-State team.
In a sport dominated by six-footers, Hopper stands tall from the back row.
“I'm really short, and I showed that height doesn't matter, even though most good volleyball players are tall,” Hopper said. “I feel like I'm overcoming stereotypes.”
Hopper was the Bulldogs' libero this season - a position where she can't help but stand out.
The libero wears a different color jersey than the rest of her teammates and can come in and out during any stoppage of play. The libero is a defensive back row player whose main responsibility is to dig up opponents spikes. It's something that Hopper relishes.
“(The libero position) is a big part on the back row,” Hopper said. “I have to get most of the hard balls. I have to get down and dig them up and get dirty. I'm short, so I can get low pretty easily.”
Hopper helped lead the Bulldogs to an improbable second-place finish this season in Region III-2A. She was the ‘Dogs lone returning starter from a team that was the league runner-up last year.
“The girls from last year, I'd played with them since my freshman year,” Hopper said. “We knew how each other played. We had to learn how to play together. I had to be more of a leader. I would do whatever (last year), but this year, I had to motivate.”
Hopper is hoping to continue to play volleyball in college, possibly at Converse, Coker or Columbia College.
Post a Comment
