Her statistics speak to her talent, but now Jordyn Glenz is also speaking for her team.
Despite being a junior, Jordyn Glenz is a varsity veteran on a Verndale Pirates volleyball team that has no seniors. In fact, Glenz, who is a five-year varsity player, is one of only two juniors on the young team.
That means she's had to up her game. Not her volleyball game, but her leadership game.
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Jordyn Glenz
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- Year: Junior
- School: Verndale
- Sport: Volleyball
- Position: Middle hitter
- Highlights: Finished week with 50 kills, 43 digs and six blocks
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"I was always quieter on our team," said the three-sport athlete. "When we would go to clinics at (Central Lakes College) or anything like that, our team was always told we were too quiet and to be more vocal. In order to become a leader and in taking on that role I'm trying to make our team more vocal. I'm trying to be a leader. I think I'm getting more comfortable with it."
Glenz has led the Pirates to a 10-3 start, including a five-game non-tournament winning streak. She also has the vote of approval from her coach on her leadership ability.
"Jordyn has really stepped up as a co-captain," said Pirates head coach and mother Shelley Glenz. "I didn't know how Jordyn would be because she's a quiet leader. I'm really pleased with how she's embraced the role. She's really a strong leader. I'm amazed and proud of her. She's probably the best leader we've ever had. She leads in practice and in the games. It's fun to watch her grow into that role."
Actions often speak louder than words and Glenz's play is speaking volumes this season. The middle hitter tallied 16 digs, 10 kills and three blocks in a 3-0 Park Region Conference win over Bertha-Hewitt Sept. 18. During the Ulen-Hitterdahl tournament Sept. 20, Glenz tallied 34 kills, 29 digs and three blocks as Verndale went 3-2.
"Jordyn is a smarter hitter this year, especially hitting around the block," said Shelley Glenz. "She's mastered her power step. Last year our hitters would set high and outside. This year we've tried to transition to a faster, quicker, pass offense. Jordyn has been in the middle since eighth grade so she's very comfortable there. The fast attack has improved our game a lot. It's stepped up our attack to a whole new level and Jordyn is doing well with in that."
It's an offense Jordyn worked with this summer playing for CLC's Junior Olympic team. She was able to work with her setters at Verndale to create a smooth transition.
"I do enjoy the new offense a lot," Jordyn said. "I played a lot in the offseason with a team out of the Brainerd college. They taught me a lot about working with quicker sets and quicker hits and we brought that back to our high school team. I've gotten a lot more confidence just by working on in the offseason."
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This season, Glenz has 131 kills, 99 digs, 18 blocks, 12 ace serves and six set assists. Last season, she tallied 244 kills 279 digs, 71 blocks, 10 set assists and 13 ace serves to land spots on the All-Park Region Conference team as well as the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team.
"I really worked a lot on passing because I'm one of our team's primary passers," said Glenz. "That was a big thing. That and blocking. I'm not the tallest so I try to get where I need to be quickly so that I can jump as high as I possibly can. Just being in the right spots is important."
Despite being a junior, Glenz is also aware that she's running out of time to reach some of her goals. Those include winning a conference title and going far in the playoffs.
"We are a young team, but I'm not anymore," said Glenz. "I don't have very many years left. I used to have a lot of time, but I'm coming to the end and I would really like to see us succeed this year and next."
Other notable performances:
Cross country: Gina Garai, Pequot Lakes, won the Pillager Invite in 16:48.7.
Swimming: Alice Foote, Little Falls, won the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke and was part of the winning 400 free relay against Sauk Centre.
Volleyball: Liz Down, Pine River-Backus, finished with 16 set assists, 11 kills, four digs and three blocks against Bertha-Hewitt.
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Casey Volkmann, Wadena-Deer Creek, finished with 15 set assists, 14 kills, 12 digs and five ace serves against Henning.
Morgan Lohmiller, Pequot Lakes, finished with 17 set assists, 11 digs, 10 kills and one ace serve against Staples-Motley.
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop .
