FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 10, 2020) – In the final Northern Arizona volleyball 2020 signing class Q&A, NAU Athletics catches up with Jordan Elder. Elder is an incoming middle blocker from Dolores High School in Dolores, Colo.
Q: What is the one thing that excites you most about joining the NAU Volleyball program?
A: I clicked really well with the coaching staff and I love the culture they've created for the team. Also the team dynamic seems so much fun and the team looks like they love the game of volleyball, which is something I was looking for.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a volleyball player?
A: I would I say I'm goal-oriented, competitive and coachable. I like to learn but I also like to have fun on the court.
Q: Millie O'Ketter mentioned how fun it will be to have you alongside her this fall at NAU. How excited are you to be making the move with your club teammate?
A: It's going to be so nice. I've been on the same team as her ever since I joined our club team my freshman year. We're best friends on and off the court, so we're able to be competitive and push together. We encourage and support each other and that's going to help us be comfortable going to a new place and playing high-level volleyball.
Q: One of your hobbies is photography. What is it about photography that you enjoy the most?
A: I like to explore and see different sides of people's personalities that they might not even see. I like doing portrait photography. I like to help them see themselves in a different way and making them feel confident.
Q: Given your major is business and you plan to minor in photography, would you like to run your own photography business one day?
A: That's exactly my plan. I want to have my own portrait photography business.
Q: How have you been filling your time during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: My family has been doing a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, rafting and paddleboarding. I've been spending quality time with my family before I head off to college. I've also read some books and done Bible studies.
Q: What is one fun fact about yourself?
A: When I was little, I was a gymnast for six years. It's interesting because I'm so tall now, so you wouldn't expect that. But I used to be able to do a standing backflip and I really wish I could've practiced that because it would be awesome to still be able to do that. I was a hardcore gymnast.
Jordan Elder At a Glance
Height: 6-3
Position: Middle Blocker
Hometown: Dolores, Colo.
High School: Dolores
Stats to Know: Averaged 4.3 kills per set and hit .425 as a senior
What Head Coach Ken Murphy is saying: Jordan is going to be a force on our team. She is the prototypical middle blocker who plays high above the net with ease and competes really hard to make plays for her team. She is so athletic that I could see her playing any position for us but I do think she has the ability to continue the tradition of great middle blockers that we have had here. I'm excited to coach her and I'm sure our fans will enjoy watching her play and develop over the coming years.
Previous Class of 2020 Q&A's
May 13 – Kate Hatch
May 20 – Savannah Bloom
May 27 – Lyla Hollis
June 3 – Millie O'Ketter
