Posted at: 10/28/2009 10:08 PM

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Jordyn Dudek

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The Chatfield volleyball team finished third in the 3 Rivers Conference this season, and they are a two-seed in the Section 1AA Tournament.  The team is trying to make state for the first time in school history, and as ABC 6 Sports Reporter TJ Werre tells us, with the help this week's Female Prep Athlete of the Week, the Gophers just might make it this year.

It is hard to say where the Chatfield volleyball team would be without senior setter Jordyn Dudek.

"Your setter is like your quarterback. She'll be the last one to take credit for something and the first one to raise her hand and accept responsibility for something, which - on a volleyball team - is crucial," Chatfield Head Coach Troy Swancutt said.

While her main position is setter, she is also used as a passer and hitter, which makes her even more valuable to the team.

"She's just willing to go along with anything that she feels will help the team be successful," Swancutt said.

"I've mostly set my whole life, but I am willing to hit and pass and do whatever we need to win," Dudek said.

She can do that as well as serve.  She has a 97 percent success rate this season, but of all the things she can do, she has preferences.

"Hitting and getting a kill probably gets the most credit, but I always like it when I get a good set," Dudek said.

The Gophers face a tough road to state, but with Dudek helping lead the way, Swancutt says they have just as good a chance as anyone else.

"The competition's always really stiff and we'd have to rise to the occasion, but we have the skill level to achieve that," Dudek said.

"She'll lead by example.  She won't expect anyone else to run any faster or work any harder in practice than she does," Swancutt said.

Jordyn Dudek is the ABC 6 Sports Female Prep Athlete of the Week.