DNA has certainly been in the favor of Jordyn and Taylor Harvey, who play volleyball for Bountiful High, as their mom and dad both played collegiate sports and their cousin, Aaron Gordon, currently plays in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. But the sisters have been developing their own talents together for several years on the same court and are relishing the last few weeks of Jordyn’s last high school season before the 2021 5A Player of the Year moves on to play at Stanford. 

The daughters of Tony Harvey, of Park City, who played basketball under the late Rick Majerus at the University of Utah, and Lindsay Harvey, of Bountiful, who was on the Ricks College volleyball team, are an integral part of the Redhawks squad who is currently 16-0 on the season in defense of its 2021 5A state title and the past two Region 5 championships.

“Having sisters as teammates is always an interesting dynamic, but it is also so fun to watch that deeper relationship functioning within that sphere of a team,” said Bountiful High head coach Sarah Chism. “The Harveys have been a major part of our program. Both were a huge part of our state championship run last year and are crucial parts of this year’s team as well as we look to defend that title. They are amazing athletes and great people who bring a lot of fun to our gym. They are competitors and push each other to be better.”

The sisters were also part of the Club-V volleyball team that placed third in the nation in the 17 Open division among 32 teams this past summer and were both named All-Americans – out of just eight players honored in that age bracket.

Lindsay Harvey knew early on that her daughter Jordyn would be active. 

“She didn’t just walk at seven months old, she was constantly jumping as a baby,” Lindsay said. “I used to get so tired of holding her and we just passed her from person to person ‘cause she couldn’t stay still.”

Her parents found opportunities for her to channel that energy, but her first experience with playing club volleyball wasn’t exactly “love at first sight.” 

“Jordyn played on the lowest level team and told me that it was the dumbest sport ever after practices as they would stand in a line, hit once and then go to the back of the line,” Lindsay said. “We made sure she at least finished the season and by then she had begun to feel differently about volleyball as I took her to see a match at the University of Utah, where it was fast, aggressive and fun.”

Jordyn also played basketball growing up and attended a camp at Stanford when she was 12, which put the prestigious school on her radar despite the rigorous academic standards required to attend. After her first couple of high school seasons, the Cardinal volleyball coaching staff began showing interest in her abilities and she received a verbal offer just prior to her junior year.

The three-time All-State basketball player – who is also a three-time All-State volleyball selection as a 6’0” outside hitter – found herself “a little more excited to go to volleyball practice” and, while also feeling she was better at volleyball, she decided to put more emphasis on that sport to play collegiately. 

“There was kind of a mental switch for me,” Jordyn said. “When I got the offer from Stanford, I realized that working on my volleyball goals was helping me achieve my personal goals, and that I could take that to the next level.”

“She has really focused on time management and juggling multiple AP classes amidst hours of practice in the gym and on her own in conditioning in order to achieve success academically and athletically,” Lindsay said. 

Taylor Harvey said she has had a unique viewpoint to her older sister’s growth and development in volleyball. 

“It has been so great watching Jordyn play and being able to play with her and then go home and see how hard she works as well,” Taylor said. “I’ve always looked up to her and she has constantly provided the motivation for me to get better. She’s still challenging me and holding me accountable.”

In order to make volleyball practices work when a young Taylor began following in Jordyn’s footsteps in playing club volleyball, the sisters played on the same team – with Taylor playing two levels up.

“I worried at first if Taylor could be her own person and not be the top dog because Jordyn was always that,” Lindsay said of her youngest daughter, who is “quirky, artistic and a talented writer. But it’s actually bonded them together and encouraged Taylor to develop quicker. I think that’s why Taylor has gotten so good so fast. If she wanted playing time, she had to work for it. The competition has driven her to be better. Taylor began to realize that she could also play at a high level and Jordyn treated her as an equal. It’s been awesome for me as a mom to watch them play together. It’s so much fun.”

Taylor said it was difficult being the youngest on the team for a while, particularly as she compared herself to Jordyn and other teammates. “But, then I started using it as motivation and began feeling more secure and believing in myself, and it got me way better as I realized that I can experience this too.”

Jordyn watched her younger sister – who now stands two inches taller at 6’2” – for years and said that “it’s been really fun to see her grow. Taylor’s gotten so much better. Even this past summer, I was gone with USA Volleyball for a couple of weeks and got back and realized how much she had improved just in that time. She really could be one of the best volleyball players to ever come out of Utah.”

Taylor plays middle blocker and, while the sisters appreciate each other’s contributions on the court, they both find each other’s individual positions “boring” and are glad to be playing in their own spots on the court. “I love going back and forth at the net and moving a lot,” Taylor said of the middle position she has always played.

The Third-Team All-State volleyball player also plays basketball and favors whatever sport she is currently playing. She is presently eyeing the possibility of being a dual-sport athlete in college. “I love the competitiveness and intensity and the team aspect of both,” Taylor said. “I also love encouraging others in their job while I try to do mine, and then building from each other’s energy.”

Chism said she is thrilled for what is ahead for the Harvey sisters. 

“It will be exciting to see Jordyn continue her career at Stanford next year and also exciting to see where Taylor’s path takes her, as she will have unlimited opportunities in both volleyball and basketball,” she said. λ