Sophomore middle hitter Brynn Hopkins ran into a little bit of a rough patch recently, but she made a concerted effort to get herself back to being involved in St. Charles North’s offense.
It was welcomed sight because, when Hopkins is in the mix, the North Stars reach another level.
“At practice, we’ve talked about what we need to do to bring the team together more,” she said. “I need to be more aggressive. The last couple weeks, I haven’t been as aggressive as I need to be.
“(Thursday), I was.”
Hopkins helped St. Charles North jump out to a healthy lead in the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional championship match before Penn State-bound Haley Burgdorf got into her groove.
The result was a determined, focused performance Thursday night by the North Stars that produced a brisk 25-13, 25-19 victory over the host Redhawks.
St. Charles North’s Brynn Hopkins (21) goes up for a kill against the host Redhawks during the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional championship match on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Hopkins finished with four kills and a block for St. Charles North (34-3), while Burgdorf totaled a match-high 12 kills with three aces. Amber Czerniak added six kills and Sidney Wright had four.
North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins noticed Hopkins slowing down after a solid start to the season, so she talked to Hopkins and senior setter Mia McCall to get back on the same page.
“She was doing really good in the beginning of the season and sort of petered out,” Hawkins said. “We were like, ‘Mia, we have to get her the ball more. We have to get her going again.’”
The difference was evident for St. Charles North, which plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the host Hilltoppers (28-9) in the Glenbard West Sectional semifinals.
St. Charles North’s Brynn Hopkins (21) reacts after a play against the host Redhawks during the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional championship match on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Burgdorf didn’t put down her first kill Thursday until the North Stars’ 20th point. Hopkins made her presence felt during that opening stretch with two kills.
“She’s been refocused in the gym, just expecting the ball too,” Hawkins said of Hopkins. “When you’re playing with Haley, a lot of people, including Brynn, are expecting the ball to go to Haley.
“We have to keep telling her, ‘You need to demand the ball. You are good.’ She’s just been trying to be more vocal with Mia and make sure she’s available.”
Wright has noticed that, too. The Illinois State recruit has taken Hopkins under her wing in the middle for two seasons. When Wright is on the bench, she knows Hopkins can make an impact.
St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf (23) goes up for a kill against Naperville Central during the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional championship match on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“I’ve really seen Brynn improve so much over the season,” Wright said. “Her aggressiveness has improved so much. She’s getting available a lot, and it’s been nice to see her improvement.
“It’s really helped the team overall. It makes us a lot more dangerous.”
Hopkins also couldn’t have a much better mentor to work with than Wright.
“She’s so good,” Hopkins said. “She’s always encouraging me to swing hard. She swings so hard.”
Burgdorf’s first kill built a 20-11 lead and the rout was on. She proceeded to put away 11 more kills. Earlier in the season, St. Charles North beat Naperville Central 25-21, 25-21.
This one was decidedly more one-sided.
St. Charles North’s Brynn Hopkins (21) blocks an attempt from Naperville Central’s Sophie Riddell (10) during the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional championship match on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“I feel like we know it’s the playoffs now,” Wright said. “If we lose, we’re done. We know we have to give 100% every match and play our best volleyball.
“I definitely feel like we’re doing our best right now and we’re really pushing ourselves.”
The results speak to that mindset. Since losing to Benet for a second time this season, the North Stars have rattled off 12 straight wins. They’re only dropped one set in that span.
“We were at Lincoln-Way Central for a tournament and we were just rolling,” Hawkins said. “I thought at that point we were peaking at the right time. Tuesday night was kind of a slower match.
“I was not happy, so they came with a very reinvigorated energy to practice (Wednesday). I was like, ‘Oh, this is the team that wants to be playing their best right now.’”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
