Corona del Mar’s Smith just warming up

Chris Yemma

Corona del Mar High girls volleyball senior Jordan Smith is a quiet

individual. She’s not the type of person who yells out the plays, or

yells at her teammates.

But on the CdM team, she is one of three team captains. The

reason? Her actions speak louder than her words.

“She’s is probably the best defensive player in the country,” Sea

Kings’ Coach Bill Christiansen said. “She is one of the top outside

hitters and she leads by quiet example.

“She’s not a yeller or a screamer -- she’s extremely quiet, but

she goes out and plays an A-plus game all the time.”

Smith, who is a tri-captain with seniors Lindsey Ensign and

Breanne Ogden, helped lead the Sea Kings to a CIF Southern Section

Division III-A title and an appearance in the Southern California

regional semifinals of the CIF State Division III championships.

CdM lost in the semis in five games to host University of San

Diego High last Saturday, ending the Sea Kings’ season. But Smith’s

career is just starting.

UCLA has had its eyes on her since she was a sophomore, and just

before her senior season, she signed with the Bruins. Christiansen

said UCLA is looking to play her offensively as an outside hitter and

defensively in the back row.

Smith usually led the Sea Kings in digs, but she also was a solid

hitter. Either Smith or Ensign would always lead the team in kills

this season.

Smith has also been starting on varsity since her freshman year,

but since then, she has added muscle, power and technique.

“When she came to us as a freshman, her nickname was “stick”,”

Christiansen said. “Now she has worked out with weights and she’s not

a stick any more. She has developed her physique and improved her

technique in all areas -- hitting, digging, serving.”

As a senior captain, Smith saw her role on the team this year as

that of a mentor for the younger players. Sophomores Kasey Kipp and

Kelly Christian were starters on a team among nine seniors, which can

be intimidating sometimes, Smith said.

“I would always try and encourage them,” she said. “The seniors

were really competitive and loud and really wanted to win, so

sometimes [Christian and Kipp] would be scared.”

Smith’s roots don’t extend to volleyball. She mainly played

basketball growing up, but made the switch to volleyball after her

older sister did, she said. Now she is still following in her

sister’s footsteps.

Morgan, Smith’s older sister, played volleyball for CdM and went

on to play for UCLA, but recently had to quit because of foot

problems. Now, Smith will have a chance to continue where her sister

left off.

And sibling rivalries always bring out the best competition.

“My parents think I’m a better player but they think Morgan is

smarter,” she said.