Freshman Jordan Haverly finds niche at Indiana

It was pretty clear in high school that Jordan Haverly would be playing volleyball at the collegiate level.

The current freshman outside hitter just needed time – an extra year – to find the right place for her, and she eventually decided IU was that place.

Ranked as the No. 20 recruit nationally by PrepVolleyball.com in 2008, Haverly originally committed to Nebraska, which later that year finished in the semi-finals in the NCAA Tournament.

However, she examined the situation there more closely and decided it wasn’t going to work, despite the program’s prestige.

“It just wasn’t the right fit,” she said. “I think a lot of people don’t understand that, but it really is – you feel like you have a place or you fit in with a program, and that just wasn’t the right place for me.”

Subsequently, Haverly stayed in her hometown of Cherry Valley, Ill. during the 2008-09 academic year rather than attend Nebraska.

She said she took classes at a local community college, worked out with a trainer and played as much as possible while mulling over her options.

“I played volleyball in a bunch of different leagues and played with my old club team and just whoever I could play with,” she said.

After a year of preparation and searching, she officially transferred to IU, maintaining freshman eligibility.

Haverly, a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman selection this season, flourished as a late addition to the IU volleyball team’s freshman class.

In her first season with the Hoosiers, she set a record for most single-season kills by a freshman with 446 at a per-set average of 3.35, which was seventh-best in the Big Ten.

IU coach Sherry Dunbar said Haverly’s arrival was “huge for the program.”

“She wants to be great right now,” Dunbar said during the season. “She’s never played collegiate volleyball until this year. She’s still learning to fit in ... and do all those type of things that freshmen do.”

The productive youngster had no shortage of accomplishments or accolades before entering the college ranks.

Haverly served as team captain each of her four years at Keith Country Day School, amassing the second-most kills in a career in Illinois’ class 1A history with 1,671, according to IUHoosiers.com.

She also led the Cougars  to their first state finals appearance her senior year and competed internationally with the A2 program Club Fusion in 2007.

Her teammates recognized the kind of player and person Haverly was when she first arrived on campus.

“She’s a little ball of energy,” said sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin, Haverly’s “big sister” on the team. “She’s got some comeback, and she stands her ground.”

After leading the Hoosiers in terminations this season, Haverly said she is excited about playing another three seasons at IU.

“We’ve been able to see a lot of positive things this year,” she said. “I think in the next few years, it’s going to be a huge difference from what people normally think of as Indiana volleyball.

“It’s going to be in those top programs, and I’m just really excited to see it get there and hopefully be a part of the teams that do get there.”