High School Sports Awards: Arizona volleyball phenom Jordan Middleton anchored by humility, work ethic

Hamilton High School (AZ) volleyball standout Jordan Middleton has garnered a myriad of individual accolades since she began competing in the sport at the age of 10. 

But those who know the stellar outside hitter best maintain at the root of the plaudits rests a strong measure of humility, fervent work ethic and competitiveness Middleton readily folds into the team dynamic. 

"She's probably one of the most coachable kids I've ever had," Hamilton High School Head Volleyball Coach Sharon Vanis said with regard to Middleton, who helped the Huskies to consecutive Arizona Interscholastic Association 6A Conference Girls Volleyball state championships. "She's a very respectful teammate, humble and has received a lot of awards. She knows it's a team sport and it's not all about her, but that's why she is so deserving of the things she gets - because she's humble and it all came by being a part of a great teams."

Middleton, a 2022 Arizona High School Sports Awards nominee, has been tabbed as the 2021 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year while also having collected Under Armour High School All-America and American Volleyball Coaches Association High School All-America honors. Additionally, she is a member of the 2021 U.S. Women's U20 National Team. But Middleton is quick to point to what the Huskies have done collectively. 

"Every practice we would work hard and push ourselves to be better than we were the practice before, so that we'd be prepared for state and each upcoming game," the University of Southern California-bound Middleton said. "We got to play a bunch of competitive teams, both in and out of state. And knowing we were able to end on top was such a great feeling."

During her senior campaign, Middleton posted 516 kills to pair with a kill percentage of 48.7 percent and notched 4.6 kills per set while helping the Huskies to a 34-5 record. She amassed 1,556 career kills during her Hamilton High School tenure. Vanis said Middleton was among a stellar group of seniors that possessed a collective mindset to deliver their best effort regardless of the circumstance. 

"I feel so lucky she was one of nine that all had the same mentality, work ethic and competitive spirit," Vanis said. "Jordan is just the package deal. USC is pretty lucky to have her. She's going to be an impact player for the next four years, for sure." 

During the season Hamilton High School participated in the GEICO Girls Volleyball Invitational, which was hosted by the Huskies and televised by ESPN in conjunction with the newly launched ESPN Girls High School Series and also featured Assumption High School (KY), Mount Notre Dame High School (OH) and Marymount High School (CA).

"We got to play the top teams in the country," Middleton, who watched her aunt, mother and grandfather play volleyball when she was younger and began playing in the fourth grade, said. "That was a really good experience for us and good competition to help us get ready for state. I'm so proud of all of our experiences." 

Middleton said as the season approached, the Huskies were well aware the team would be in the crosshairs of each opponent in the wake of being defending champions - and she noted it was a challenge the squad embraced. 

"I love the feeling of having a big target on your back," she said. "You know people have respect for you and want to play their best game against you. But you know you're going to play your best game no matter who your opponent is or who they have on their team. Everyone is going to be coming after you, but we had each other's back every step of the way."

With regard to her Hamilton High School legacy, Middleton offered the following:

"Just that people recognized I gave it my all on the court," she said. "I want to be known for putting in the work at practice, pushing myself and my teammates to be better and being a competitor. My advice to the underclassmen is to never give up. When you run into hard times, just know that it's pushing you to become stronger and better."

When she has the time to do so, Middleton said she enjoys watching college volleyball, adding she marvels at the heightened intensity level and athleticism on display. 

"It amazes me to see how dynamic those players are and how they are able to adapt to everyone on the court and the game itself," she said. "You realize how big these girls are in college and to me that is fascinating. Even the shorter players are jumping out of the gym, at the same height as a 6-foot-5 girl. Overall, I like the bonds that are formed within the sport. I think it's a really good community and it's fun getting to know a whole bunch of different girls and making connections that you can build at a young age." 

Middleton is fast approaching the time when she will be competing on the collegiate level as a Trojan. 

"The recruiting process was fun, but when I narrowed it down to pick where I wanted to go, it was a difficult decision, because you have to do a lot of research into what best fits," she said, adding she wasn't able to take as many visits as she would have liked because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "But I was able to go online and do personal tours. What really narrowed it down to USC was the chemistry of the team, the student-teacher ratio and the diversity they have on the campus."

Vanis said the Huskies' season was one of the most memorable of her career, but it wasn't solely about winning another state title. 

"These kids were hungry for everything," she said. "They dug in their heels and what they really learned is how important it is to be a team. Being able to get through the tough times - if you can count on each other to have each other's back. I think that's the key. You can have the greatest athletes, but if you don't work together and work as a team, it doesn't matter. They were an incredible group from the get go."