Coach Michelle Hopkinson has been the Varsity Head Coach of Reading’s Volleyball team since 2008. Her volleyball career had humble beginnings. She tried out for her high school's volleyball team and fell in love with the sport ever since. She went on to coach for various teams before she found a home in Reading’s Volleyball Program. This was her tenth season as the coach of Reading’s varsity volleyball team. She has been vital to the team’s success with 4 Middlesex League Championships in years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. This year, she was inducted into the Massachusetts Girls Volleyball Coaches Association High School Hall of Fame on October 14th. She is one of eight coaches to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. One of the coaches is her longtime friend Coach George Mulri of Longmeadow. Every year, the Reading and Longmeadow alternate hosting a scrimmage in the beginning of their seasons. Next year it will be hosted in Reading.
On top of being an outstanding coach, she loves to plan special events surrounding the game she loves. The largest event she enjoys hosting every year is Reading’s annual Volley for the Cure match, a night where all the proceeds generated from the game are donated to finding the cure for breast cancer. This fundraising event actually has an interesting back story. It started in 2009 against Lexington. A graduate from Lexington, Molly, had recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. Lexington’s coach. Coach Bergin, decided to hold a special match to support Molly and named it Volley for Molly. Tragically, Molly died just hours before the match. Since then, the former Lexington coach, now Andover volleyball coach, and Reading’s Michelle Hopkinson, host their own Volley for the Cure events, and Reading has raised over $14,500 for breast cancer research. Coach Hopkinson’s team has also suffered a loss from cancer during the volleyball season. A player’s mom died from cancer just before the team’s senior night. The team all came together to support the player and her family. In the interview, she spoke of how loss teaches strength and capability, and in those tough times is when a player needs her team the most. She wants to teach her players more than just volleyball skills. She wants them to know comradery, passion, and respect.
Coach Hopkinson also has her team participate in community service projects. In 2010, a mom of a player on the team asked Coach Hop if the girls on the program could help her with the EMARC Road race, held on Melrose’s town day. Coach Hopkinson agreed and has made it a tradition. Every year, the reading volleyball program are marshalls for the race. Girls pair up to cheer on the runners, point the runners in the right direction, and give out waters at the water stations.
Coach Hopkinson was given the opportunity by Reading Recreation to introduce volleyball to elementary and middle school students through the Rocket Volleyball program. She has made the program her own, teaching the basics of volleyball, and even more she hopes to share her love for the game with the young athletes.
Coach Hopkinson has had a decorated past in volleyball. She helped the team win the Middlesex League Liberty Division Champs in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. She keeps her past experiences in mind and reflects on each season as it passes. She has an unwavering trust and pride in the talent of her athletes both on and off the court. With the new lessons from each season, she plans for the next, hoping to make improvements and adjustments to create the most successful and supportive environment she can.