Sophomore Joe Krattenmaker lines up a shot during a recent match. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Midway through this season, Hopkinton High School boys tennis coach Mike Miller said the year has been a lot of fun. With his team sporting a 13-0 record at the time, who could blame him?

The Hillers’ mix of strong returning players and a few talented newcomers put them at the top of the standings and among the top teams in the state, with a No. 2 power ranking at the start of May.

“We knew we had some good players coming back from last year,” Miller said. “They are all meshing together pretty well.”

Leading the way in the top singles spot is Max Sendele, a German exchange student. The junior’s ability to play first singles has greatly increased Hopkinton’s depth by allowing other players to move down. And that is not all he has brought to the lineup, according to Miller.

“He is a fun, sweet kid, and he is jelling well with everyone,” the coach said. “We have welcomed him with open arms. He’s coming into a new spot, a new town from a different country, and he is soaking it all in. He is all smiles, all the time.”

In the second singles spot is sophomore Joe Krattenmaker, and the third singles position largely has been occupied by senior captain Ilian Glace.

Miller said his team is deep in the doubles spots as well, and many of those players have the ability to step into a singles match if needed. The group includes senior captains Rishit Shekhar and Kais Guessab at first doubles and junior Chavdar Kamenarov teaming up with sophomore Owen Gormley at second doubles.

Miller expects that to be the lineup heading into the postseason. Hopkinton worked through some injuries earlier in the year and was still able to run the table through the early part of the Tri-Valley League schedule and win in convincing fashion against strong non-league foes Needham, Wayland and Lincoln-Sudbury.

“It sounds cliche, but our goals don’t really change,” Miller said. “We don’t start talking about the postseason until we qualify, which we have, but it doesn’t change what we do.”

Miller said the players are more in tune with where the team is in the state power rankings than he is. Acknowledging that this is one of the strongest teams Hopkinton has had over the years, he warned against getting complacent as the most important time of the year approaches.

“All we can control is ourselves,” Miller said. “If we try to get the best of our players, we will be in a good place at the end of the year.”