Silent leader.
 
Those are the two words Louisiana Tech volleyball coach Amber McCray uses when first describing outside hitter Jordyn Carswell.
 
"She is a player who takes care of business on and off the court," said McCray. "She brings a very valuable asset to the team. She is dependable. What will be exciting is to watch her grow vocally as she gets more confident."
 
"We have already brought her out of her shell a little, but there is so far we can still go. We want to get that leadership translating to being more vocal. She says some really good things."
 
While Carswell might not be the most boisterous player in fall camp, McCray said she is one of the fiercest. Don't believe her? Just watch Jordyn on the court during a match.
 
The soft-spoken sophomore flips a switch when she steps on the floor. Whether it is her own kill registering a point for the Lady Techsters or one of her teammates making a great play, the competitive side of Jordyn is clearly on display.
 
"Jordyn is super competitive," said McCray. "You do not always see it because she is quiet. But she is one of our most competitive players on the team, not only with other players but with herself. She competes to be better every day."
 
Jordyn is one of 15 pieces to the puzzle this year for McCray in the rebuilding process in Ruston. She and the rest of her teammates have a renewed sense of excitement entering a season that opens this weekend at the Sam Houston State Tournament Friday and Saturday.
 
"We are dedicated and working hard," Jordyn said. "I think we are going to surprise a lot of people."
 
The Frisco, Texas, native gives a lot of credit to McCray and the entire coaching staff, including assistants Jane Hays and William Tatge. After enduring a tough freshman season, Jordyn has her eyes set on bigger things for the program heading into this fall.
 
"(The coaches) have brought a new energy and something that has brought the best out of everyone on the team," said Jordyn. "We all knew the team that we could be and now we are excited about getting a chance to actually do that. Preseason has been hard but the whole goal is to make practice harder than the games."
 
The four-year letterwinner at Independence High School saw action in 25 matches as a true freshman at Tech. She made 10 starts, recording 122 kills and 173 digs during the 2018 campaign. Jordyn had her moments as a rookie, including a 15-kill, 19-dig performance against ULM.
 
As a team, the Techster struggled in the win column in 2018. However, Jordyn said McCray has made the game challenging yet fun for the players since arriving on campus in December when Tech hired her away from Panola College.
 
"(Coach) has a great balance of pushing us and letting us still love the game and enjoy the game," said Jordyn. "She really brings that out of us. I think the entire team has a great respect for her. We want to play hard and we want to do well. We can enjoy it while still working hard. I think if you enjoy what you are doing it makes it a lot easier."
 
Jordyn, coached during her junior year at Independence High School by former Lady Techster volleyball standout Shannon Phillips, appreciates the new culture off the court as well.
 
"We do a lot of community service," she said. "She has taught us a lot about respect. We say hello to every staff member. We say yes ma'am, no sir all the time. We greet people when we see them. We talk to people. We have conversations with them. It is more than just a game. It is a family. We want to show that with other people and not just within our own team."
 
The daughter of Tami Stone and Jasper Carswell, Jordyn chose Louisiana Tech over Sam Houston State coming out of high school. While attending a Lady Techster volleyball camp while in high school, she was offered a scholarship on the spot. Jordyn waited to commit, not wanting to rush with her decision.
 
However, eventually, she settled on Tech.
 
"I chose Louisiana Tech because I felt the program was building," said Jordyn, the Godmother to three-year-old Norah Rose Stone, her niece. "I knew the class above me was really good, and I knew some of the girls who were already committed for my class. I wanted to be a part of the process."
 
After starting out as a computer science engineering major, Jordyn recently switched to psychology. Although she isn't 100 percent sure exactly what direction with psychology she wants to go, she is leaning towards sports psychology.
 
McCray said she thinks the major fits her perfectly.
 
"Jordyn is unique. She has a counseling feel to her," said McCray. "She is a player that can connect to everyone. Anytime someone needs an objective voice, she is probably one of the best people on the team to provide that. She has a calm demeanor. It is great for those types of situations.
 
"I think (psychology) is a good fit for her. She is someone who is always thinking. You can almost see the wheels spinning. Sometimes we have to calm that down and say just go play because she wants to do everything right. She can be a perfectionist at times, because she wants to do well and know she is contributing to the team."
 
Regardless of what she ultimately decides on as far as career path, one thing is for sure when talking to Jordyn; she is more than satisfied with her decision to come to Louisiana Tech.
 
"I'm really happy I came here," said Jordyn. "I like the small town vibes. People (in Ruston and at Tech) are really friendly; really nice. Everyone knows everyone. The community really interacts with us. I like the town, and I like the team."