Hello everyone, welcome back to another edition of Hopkins Sports in Review! After a great Thanksgiving break, the Blue Jays are back in action, with some seasons coming to an end while others are just beginning. Come with us and take a look at some of the best results of the week.

Football: W (17 – 14)

The NCAA playoffs are here! Our soccer team competed in the second round against the #12 Grove City Wolverines at Homewood Field. After an early season loss to Salisbury, the Blue Jays gained momentum and looked to extend their seven-game winning streak.

The Jays started well by establishing the running game, allowing them to march down the field and score a first possession touchdown. The game then turned into a defensive battle, which is a surprise considering the dynamic Wolverine offense has averaged 43 points per game this season. Still, Hopkins was strong and relentless, limiting Grove City to just 260 yards on the day (their second-worst performance of the season).

The teams exchanged punts for much of the game until midway through the third quarter. After a key defensive stop on fourth down, the Blue Jays completed a 64-yard drive that ended with a field goal, giving them a 10-0 lead. Hopkins pushed for more and managed to extend the lead to 17 midway through the final period with a touchdown pass from quarterback James Rinello to wide receiver EJ Talarico.

Just when the game seemed all but over, Grove City managed to respond, scoring a touchdown on the ensuing drive, followed by a Hopkins punt that was blocked and returned for a touchdown. Suddenly the game was within three points, but the situation took a turn for the worse when Rinello threw an interception with two minutes left. Grove City then made a late push and advanced downfield to the 20-yard line, but a missed field goal sealed the game for Hopkins.

With the win, the Blue Jays have advanced to the next round of the playoffs and will face #9 DePauw on December 7th in Indiana for a chance at the quarterfinals.

Women’s volleyball: W (3 – 0), W (3 – 0), W (3 – 0), W (3 – 2), L (2 – 3)

The volleyball team looked to continue its dominant season in the NCAA Tournament. Their first matchup came against Bridgewater State as the group’s top seed as the Blue Jays sought the milestone of 30 wins in a season for the third time in school history. Hopkins dominated the match, winning both first two sets 25-9 and the third set 25-12.

The next game was the next day against Carnegie Mellon. Although the game was closer than Bridgewater State, Hopkins still managed to win in straight sets. Despite the closer set scores than the previous game: 25-17, 25-23, 25-20, the Blue Jays dominated in scoring, with the closest set percentage being the second (0.433 to 0.297 in favor of Hopkins).

The previous two wins cemented Hopkins’ spot in the regional championship with a match against #20 Ithaca. This was by far the closest match of the tournament – Hopkins’ biggest lead was in the first set, which he won 25-20. The second and third sets were only decided by 2 and 3 points respectively, but Hopkins managed to win the match once again in straight sets, capping a dominant tournament run.

Finally, the team faced #7 Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The quarterfinals have been a challenge for the Blue Jays in the past, having sent them home the past two years… but not anymore. The match was a hard-fought battle with both teams going back and forth until the fifth and final set. Hopkins was able to score the required 15 points, conquer their demons and advance to the next round, where they would face Wisconsin-Whitewater for a shot at the championship.

Unfortunately, the tournament run ended there as the Blue Jays lost in a five-set thriller. After trading back and forth through the first four sets, they entered the home stretch with hopes of a spot in the Nationals. Spoilers for this day: Whitewater would prove to be a little too good and after a narrow start of 3-2, they would finish with a 12-5 run that would ultimately seal the game.

Although the season didn’t end the way the team had hoped, it was still historic as they recorded the second-most wins in school history – an impressive feat!

Men’s Basketball: W (84 – 69), L (59 – 76), L (74 – 78), W (79 – 75)

The basketball season is now officially back in full swing and the men’s team has played numerous games.

Hopkins traveled to Michigan to compete in the Great Lakes Invitational and immediately faced No. 3 John Carroll University, a difficult task for the Jays. Nonetheless, Hopkins came out in full force as they outscored the Blue Streaks 40-25 in the first half. They didn’t relent in the second half, maintaining their lead en route to an 84-69 win, their first against a top-five opponent since 2020. Guard John Windley led the way with an impressive 23 points and 8 assists. supported by Jeb Williams and Brian Johansson, who both scored in double figures.

Unfortunately, the team fell short in the final game of the invitational with a 59-76 loss to Wisconsin La Crosse. They returned to Baltimore to face Eastern University, but despite a spirited late-game rally, defeat continued with a narrow loss to the Eagles.

In the game against the Hood College Blazers, it initially looked as if the Blue Jays’ defeat could continue. Falling behind 43-29 at the end of the first half, the team struggled to keep up with the Blazers. In a second-half surge, Hopkins equalized with just two minutes to play, giving hope in a game that seemed all but lost. 20 point games from Brian Johansson and John Windley as well as some crucial free throws from Charlie Jackson led to the Blue Jays crossing the finish line with a narrow 79:75 victory.

Hopkins will be back in action this Saturday, December 7th when they travel to Pennsylvania to take on the Swarthmore Garnets and improve their record in conference play.