Athlete of the Week: Del Norte High’s Gerwig needs no spotlight to shine

By Michael Bower

Jordan Gerwig has known since the sixth grade that her work on the volleyball court as a setter would often go unnoticed to the casual fan.

Junior Jordan Gerwig helped lead Del Norte to its first Valley League title in program history. Courtesy photo

She knew the headlines in the newspapers are often reserved for the heavy hitters — not for the position that delivers them the perfect ball.

But the Del Norte High junior wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I love what setting is all about,” Gerwig said. “I know what I do is important … I feel like it is exciting because you don’t get a lot of attention, but you know that without you a great hit might not have happened.”

Gerwig has set plenty of great hits throughout her three years playing for the Nighthawks’ varsity squad. Last week, she registered 47 assists in a 3-1 win against Mission Vista and 22 assists in a 3-0 sweep of Valley Center. The latter victory clinched Del Norte’s first Valley League crown in its short program history.

For her efforts, Gerwig is the Velocity Sports Performance Athlete of the Week.

“It was really exciting,” said the 5-foot, 8-inch Gerwig of the Nighthawks clinching the league title. “We are excited to be the first (volleyball) team in our school to hang a banner. That will be nice to look back on one day. It is very special.”

Gerwig is one of three team captains for Del Norte. She is the only junior captain. Nighthawks coach Nathan Rendon has been thrilled with the way Gerwig has stepped up into the leadership role.

“She has been fantastic,” he said. “She was already a well-seasoned player entering this season, but she became more involved with the leadership role as the year has gone on and her game on offense has helped everyone around her get better.”

Gerwig’s father, Erik Gerwig, was in the Navy so the family moved around often before his retirement. Jordan has lived in Italy, Hawaii and Japan before moving to California. She competed in softball, swimming and basketball, but it wasn’t until finding the sandy beaches of California that she got serious about volleyball.

“I played a little in Japan and always thought it was fun,” said Jordan, who plays for Epic Volleyball Club in the summers. “But I started playing on the beach and it became a big thing.”

She started right away at the setter position. She briefly tried to play outside hitter.

“That didn’t last long,” she said with a laugh. “I was not that tall so setter became my position. It is what I got good at and what I loved to do.”

And that love has helped Del Norte to a 24-6 overall record through Monday.

“I could not be prouder of the team,” Gerwig said. “To get the first volleyball banner and help build the program for the future is something nobody can ever take away.”

Related posts:

1. Prep Girls Volleyball: Del Norte High clinches at least a share of first Valley League crown
2. Athlete of the Week: Rhoades helps set precedent for Del Norte High volleyball
3. Prep Girls Volleyball: Del Norte High takes down former Valley League foe Canyon Crest Academy

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Posted by Michael Bower on Oct 31 2012. Filed under Athletes of the Week, High School, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry