Sommer’s Play Leads Lady Horns to Early District Lead
Schulenburg senior volleyball player Jordan Sommer has been an essential part in many ways for the Lady Horns in the team’s 3-1 start in district play and is currently leading the team in kills while doing so.
“Jordan has done a really nice job for us this year,” said Schulenburg head volleyball coach Donald Zapalac.
“Went over from outside hitter to playing our right side opposite. That’s been a really key role for us the last few years. We thought she would be the best transition to get us into that role that Erica Otto use to maintain for many years. She can get on the back side, she can do everything that we ask her to do. She puts a lot of balls away for us. She’s still one of our top passers as well. I’m really pleased with Jordan’s effort this year. Any time you can really load up on the right side, that’s been the key for us for many years now. Really proud of what she’s done.” Sommer’s growth within the Schulenburg volleyball program has turned her into a go-to player as a senior, making her our selection for this edition’s Athlete of the Week.
Question: Where’s your favorite spot to be on the volleyball court?
Answer: “It kind of depends on how the game’s going. I love front row and back row, I love to put down kills, I love to dig up great kills in the back row. So, in my opinion, I really don’t have a personal favorite spot. I just love the game in general and just happy to play.”
Question: What do you usually think about before a game?
Answer: “Before a game, I always think about the other team. I’m thinking of where their strongest hitter is and what I need to do to get us points. How I need to lead the team so we always have energy. Tell the team what to do to score the points. So I’m just always in my mind preparing myself for the game.”
Question: How would you evaluate your team’s season thus far?
Answer: “I would say we’re doing pretty good. We for sure have our ups and downs. We’re 3-1 in district. We definitely could be undefeated, we just had a bad night. Next round, we’ll definitely get back on top and beat that team we lost to. Overall, we’re doing pretty good.”
Question: Who’s your superhero of choice?
Answer: “The first thing that comes to mind is Spiderman because I had that same question on a homework assignment, so ever since, I just associated myself with Spiderman.”
Question: If you had to choose a place for food in Schulenburg, where would you choose?
Answer: “Whataburger all the way. After most home games, me and my friends go and sit in the same booth by the window and just talk about the game, how good we played, and enjoy our food there.”
Question: What does an average day look like for you?
Answer: “An average day for me is waking up, getting ready for school, then as soon as school’s over, heading into practice, then practicing until somewhere between six and seven. After that, I have to go home, feed all my animals, work with some if them, then do my homework and go to sleep. Then the same thing the next day.”
Question: What is the best way you contribute to the team?
Answer: “Just trying to be a leader for all of them. Picking them up when they’re down, trying to give them helpful tips when they mess up and how to correct everything.”
Question: If you could visit one college campus, which one would you choose?
Answer: “I would choose (Texas) A&M 100%. That’s been my dream school for as long as I can remember. My sister is there right now and she tells me how great it is. It just makes me want to go there even more.”
Question: You made it to the state tournament in basketball two seasons ago, what was your favorite part about the experience?
Answer: “My favorite part was being in such a big gym and having so many people coming to watch us. It was definitely a different experience just being in a new environment.”
Question: How do you think volleyball relates to aspects in real life?
Answer: “Volleyball relates to other aspects in my life because being the captain for the team, it helps me be a leader. So then in other activities in my life, that transfers over and I try to be a leader in other activities.”
Sommer is a player that can step in for just about any role on the volleyball court and has proven it during her tenure with the Lady Horns.
Fayette Co. Record’s Athlete of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON
Recent FCR’s Athlete of the Week
August 20: Hayden Splawn, La Grange football
August 27: Maddi Fritz, La Grange volleyball
Sept. 3: Mattie Konvicka, Fayetteville volleyball
Sept. 10: Fidel Venegas, Flatonia football
Sept. 17: Mallory Krause, RT-C volleyball
Sept. 24: Karli Siptak, Flatonia volleyball
* As we begin a new year of county player of the week features, read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.