Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Contorting his body to provide maximum torque while displaying a leaping ability honed through national-level high jumping in his youth, Jordan Peters can take the skin off a volleyball with the best of them.
Power isn't everything, though, and that's something he's really learned as he transforms from greenhorn to an experienced Canada West-level outside hitter.
"I know now I have to take different approaches to things," said the MacEwan Griffins' sophomore. "As a rookie you just want to go out there and kill the ball every (time). Now, I'm becoming a little bit more mature – I have to use different opportunities at different times.
"People who've been in the league for a couple years, they have a moxie. They've been in the league for a couple of years and they know how to score – maybe take advantage of a rookie who's gung-ho."
A rookie no more, Peters is in the middle of a solid second season. He's fourth on the Griffins in kills (67), tied for third in service aces (7) and fourth in blocks (23).
"Everyone knows what a big jump it is from high school to Canada West," said MacEwan head coach Brad Poplawski. "He knows what he needs to do to be successful. So, you're seeing that in his game – the things he'll try and the shots he's working on.
"He's realizing he doesn't need to hit hard all the time. There's different ways to score – mixing speed, angles, tips, rolls, things like that. So, I'm seeing some confidence with his arm swing."
Peters leads the Griffins into a weekend series against Mount Royal University (Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Atkinson Gym).
Last season as he made the transition from Harry Ainlay high school, he had older brother Josh, a setter on the Griffins, to look up to. The volleyball legacy between brothers is the workout habits the now-graduated fifth-year veteran passed on.
"It's helped me a lot," he said. "After you do your workout, you feel stronger heading into those practices and games. It definitely helps with maintaining your body and balancing muscles."
As a result, when his body torques, he maintains better control, hitting with power and accuracy at the same time.
"That's the thing," explained Griffins head coach Brad Poplawski. "In golf, the guy hitting it 200 yards probably doesn't miss too many fairways. The guy hitting it 340 is probably going to miss some fairways. So that happens when there's that much pop and that much pace on the ball.
"As you get stronger, you're able to hit the ball with pace, but be in body control. You're not out of control. Your core strength helps with that. He has a pretty whippy arm, but he's able to control it because he's gotten stronger.
"He can still hit the ball with pace but still have that accuracy. That's where the working out really helps athletes."
Peters' versatility has also come to the forefront this season as he has made a mid-season switch to the right side.
"He's actually an excellent blocker both ways," said Poplawski.
Saturday night's match – NAVC (Northern Alberta Volleyball Club) Griffins Day – will be extra special for Peters. He was once that NAVC kid in the crowd, having spent five years with them in his youth.
"You always look up to those university players, especially when you're that young of an age," he said. "I guess I was that kid back in my U15, U16 year."
Poplawski notes his team ran camps for the NAVC players in the past month and have kick-started a relationship with the kids.
"Personally, I played NAVC, so I know what it's like to be in the crowd at those games watching," said the coach. "You eventually hopefully get to that level. And for our guys, it's important to give back.
"It's exciting. It's one of our biggest crowds and because they've already met, there's that familiarity with our athletes. It's a neat weekend."
