Manic Monday for Paddock
Senior middle hitter never leaves the floor as Sandburg slips past Chicago Christian
Monday was a fun day for Sandburg senior Jordan Paddock.
Normally a middle hitter who rotates out of the front row, Paddock never left the floor against Chicago Christian.
She left her imprint on the match during the Eagles’ 21-25, 25-17, 25-20 victory.
Paddock finished with six kills, 11 digs, three blocks, seven service points and three aces for Sandburg (6-3). Keegan Carey added 14 kills and 11 digs, Bianca May had 29 assists, Sidona Rao contributed 13 digs and 10 kills and Marykate Fitzgerald made 14 digs.
Logan Grevengoed led Chicago Christian (6-2) with eight kills and 18 digs. Delanie Grevengoed added eight kills, while Keely Colyer had 23 assists and 10 digs.
Paddock doesn’t get a chance to play six rotations very often for the Eagles, but she’s used to being all over the court.
Or, at least, the pit.
Her true love is beach volleyball, and she plans on playing in the fall at Mercer.
“The offers started a year ago,” Paddock said. “Mercer was actually one of the last. I hadn’t really heard about it because it’s a smaller school. But out on a limb, I emailed their coach and had a phone call with him. He really sold me on the program.
“It kind of reminds me a lot of Sandburg volleyball. They’re really into culture and a team connection, so I just kind of fell in love with that.”
Paddock travels 45 minutes to play for her beach club team in Aurora. It makes for some schedule adjustments during the summer, which Sandburg coach David Vales is happy to accommodate.
“She just tells me she can make as many days as she can,” Vales said of Paddock. “She works on her skills there and brings them to our place.”
Paddock used most of them at different times Monday.
Late in Game 2, she had a huge block and then went to the service line for three points, including two aces. In Game 3, she delivered a nice assist on a kill by Carey, doubled up on a pair of late kills, and added a third ace during a 6-1 finish by the Eagles.
“That was a very different thing for me,” Paddock said, smiling. “I feel that our energy was so fun. It was just a really fun match altogether. Everybody played cohesive.
“It’s exciting to play all-around. It’s more what I’m used to with the faster sets.”
The versatility wasn’t unexpected by Vales.
“Normally, when you think of a middle hitter, what do they do?” Vales said. “They block and run and then kill if you can. But she
literally has all of the skills. You have to be able to do everything in beach — serve, serve receive, hit and set.
“You find that middles and setters struggle to get timing down.
She kind of creates her own timing. She’s used to wind. If the ball is too far in, too far out or it’s too high, she is somehow able to make good
attacks. That’s something unique.”
It’s worth the time Paddock spends away from the beach to contribute at Sandburg.
“Yes, 100%,” Paddock said. “Most summers, I’ll spend two weeks in California for nationals, and it falls right during our summer camp. But coach
Vales has always been very accepting of the fact that’s my priority. He knows there are benefits that I can take back to indoor.
“I love the CSVB environment. I think coach Vales makes it a very positive place for everyone. And I played with most of these girls since I was 11, so I really just wanted to finish off where I left off with them. It’s been a very fun experience.”