Girls Volleyball Co-Captain Drew Nelson ʼ24 found a love for volleyball after being convinced by her friend who had been playing the sport previously. She joined her middle school team and continued to stay in the sport because of the lifelong relationships it fosters.
“As soon as I started playing in middle school, I fell in love with it. I love how competitive the sport is but [also] how much of a tight knit community it creates. Some of my teammates that I played with when I was in middle school are still my best friends to this day, so it has always just been the sport that I’ve turned to my whole life since then,” said Nelson.
Fellow Co-Captain Mary Lord ʼ24 admires the lightheartedness that Nelson brings to the court. She believes Nelson serves as a model for the team, particularly when players are struggling.
“Drew is an awesome co-captain, she’s just such a nice person, and she really brings that to volleyball, so she is always so encouraging of everyone. She brings so much positive energy and she’s really good at uplifting the team,” said Lord.
This season, Nelson has been battling an injury but still displays leadership and pride for the team. Head Coach Clyfe Beckwith admires Nelson’s passion in what she does.
Beckwith wrote in an email to The Phillipian, “[Nelson is the] Blue Key Head of PAVB — our spirit leader. We miss her on the court due to her injury. Hoping we’ll get her back soon.”
According to Lord, the buoyant demeanor of Nelson plays a crucial role in shaping them into an effective Co-Captain duo. By complimenting each other’s strengths, they bring new dimensions to their leadership roles that were previously unexplored.
“She helps me bring out my more energetic side because sometimes just in general I’m not always the most loud, but she really encourages me to be loud and to bring a lot of energy on the sidelines… I think we work well together just because she’s…so kind, and we always communicate with each other and that helps us put our best foot forward as captains,” said Lord.
Nelson ensures that her fellow teammates always experience a sense of support. Understanding that no volleyball performance is flawless, she strives to prevent her teammates from becoming disheartened or overly critical of themselves.
“Since volleyball is a sport where mistakes happen all the time, it’s really easy to get in your head, I try to be an example to show that it’s okay to make mistakes on the court and to just move onto the next play,” said Nelson.
Nelson works to foster a team where the relationships between teammates are strong, leading to success on the court. Because of the strong bonds the players have created, Nelson feels that everyone can rely on each other for support.
“Since we have such a close community it’s become very easy for Mary and I to reach out to people one-on-one. When you’re struggling on the court…especially if you’re younger, it’s just nice to have a Senior player come up to you and just let you know that you’ve got it and off the court to know that you have a support system and girls who are more than willing to help you out no matter what the problem is,” said Nelson.
In this season as Co-Captain, Nelson cherishes the opportunity to be a role model. She is proud to carry on the team’s legacy and to continue fostering a positive environment.
Nelson said, “I’m so passionate about volleyball, and I’ve played for so long and this is such a great way to really get in touch with younger players and pull the team together. I think that has been my favorite aspect, is really creating a cohesive unit and making sure that everyone has fun together.”
