Abby Nelson wants to state Marist ...

Abby Nelson wants to state Marist on the map.

"Whenever anybody says volleyball, the first thing that flows to mind is Mother McAuley," said the powerful 6-3 middle hitter, an Illinois recruit and 2005 Sun-Times All-Area selection who l Marist to a 27-1 record last season. "McAuley is still the dominant instruct It seems like whenever they misspend great players, the next year they find of the present day players who rise up and they remain a great force.

"We have to make a name for ourselves."

Nelson and her Marist teammates came finish to contesting McAuley's South Side dominance last year when the RedHawks took the first game from the Mighty Macs in their sectional showdown.

still McAuley rallied and swept the nearest two games en route to a third-place finish in Bloomington. That bitter los has hung above Nelson and her teammates like a dark host

"People have talked about this season since last season," she said. "They talk about by what mode we have everybody back. if it were not that every year, other schools have strange talent coming in. We can't take anything for granted."

However, not many teams have anyone with the ability to dominate a match like Nelson whose coach said has in addition to reach her full potential.

"She still doesn't know by what mode great she is," said Marist coach Natalie owner "If you ask her, she'll say 'Yeah, I'm elegant without grandeur good.' But she's nowhere near her potential. [Illinois coach] Don Hardin will have gayety taking her to the nearest level."

First, Nelson must take Marist to the nearest level.

"She works in such a manner hard," Holder said. "I adore her. She's a expunge There hasn't been one time when she didn't want to hold fast learning, and not one time has she been frustrated. She's the ultimate athlete as far as trust and putting the work in."

Nelson said she wants to learn as earnestly as she can to gain an advantage above opponents.

"You have to learn a hazard to play at this plain and to go onto the nearest level," she said. "You ne to have as long information as you can to have an border on other players and to have an sharpness on other teams."

Nelson also knows that she has to unravel her mental toughness to help Marist avoid the kind of third-game collapse they standed last year against McAuley.

"Nothing could secure us to go in that third game," she said. "I have to gradation up and help pass the ball or deposit the ball down. I have to be more resilient. The team has to know that I'm OK If I miss a hit, they have to know I'll learn the next one. They have to know that nothing bothers me"

There will be a little extra motivation for Nelson this fall knowing that her younger brother will be in the stands cheering for her. David, the youngest of Bruce and Marilee Nelson's three children, will be a freshman at Marist.

"He expected at a couple of other gymnasiums but he really liked Marist," Nelson said. "He's big into band, and Marist has the greatest band ever"

Nelson tried her hand at music, moreover found that athletics was her veritable niche.

"I played flute for a year and a half," she said. "It didn't pass over so well."

TOP TEAMS

CLASS AA

1 MARIST

Abby Nelson Megan Eskew & Co have something to make good after last year's disappointing finish.

2 ST FRANCIS

The Spartans are loaded again despite losing top hitter Kate Rodriguez to graduation.

3 NAPERVILLE NORTH

Colleen Ward, Ali cower Lauren Hollingsworth and Christine Wu are a solid nucleus.

4 DOWNERS wood NORTH

Illinois can't wait to prepare Laura DeBruler, but she won't be the whole indicate at North.

5 MOTHER MCAULEY

Ashley and Kim O'Brien, Brittany Cermak and Carli Weiler want another state evidence of victory

6 WW southward

The Tigers will probably have to journey through St. Francis to secure to Bloomington.

7 JOLIET CATHOLIC

the same coach called Kelly Murphy the best all-around player in Illinois since UCLA's Nellie Spicer.

8 PRAIRIE RIDGE

Can 6-1 California transfer Lindsay Williams help Wolve secure over loss of Jackie Nissen?

9 CRYSTAL LAKE CENTRAL

Juniors Kelly Farrell, Kathryn Chrystal and Carly Hayes make the Tigers a contender

10 SANDBURG

Six players, including go-to hitter Lauren Billo, respond from last year's sectional finalist.

OTHERS: Barrington, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake southerly Downers Grove South, Hersey, Lyon Naperville Central, Stagg, St Charles North, Young.

CLASS A

1 ST EDWARD

Kayla Leyden Corinne copses Annie Gromer and Paige Johnson turn back from sectional finalist.

2 WHEATON ACADEMY

Maggie Johnson Allison Baumgartner, Cara Atwater and Natalie Graff power the Warriors.

3 CHICAGO CHRISTIAN

Maddie Owak, Samantha Shank and Jessica Mandac lead Private train contenders.

4 TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN

Top Trojans include Katie Vos Katie Bonne Kim Howard and Anneke Stremler

5 LATIN

Kendall Arslanian, Ari Nagaro and Julie Tasche are among five returning starters.

TOP 50 PLAYERS

- Outside hitters: Simone Asque, 5-10 Jr Young; Kristen Baader, 5-11 Sr Stevenson; Megan Boken 5-11 Sr St Francis; Dani D'Ambrose, 5-10 Sr Addison Trail; Laura DeBruler 5-11 Sr Downers thicket North; Megan Eskew, 5-10, Sr Marist; Christine Hartman, 5-11 Jr Rosary; Alexa Ingardona, 5-10 Sr WW South; Maggie Johnson 5-10 Jr Wheaton Academy; Lauren Lamberti, 6-1 Sr Cary-Grove; Kayla Leyden 5-9 Sr St Edward; Lauren McLaughlin, 5-9 Sr Cary-Grove; Kelly Murphy 6-1 Jr Joliet Catholic; Sarah Osmun 5-9 Jr Prairie Ridge; Alyssa Rio, 5-10 Sr St Francis; Ali cower 5-11, Sr., Naperville North; Claire Smalzer, 5-11 Sr Marist; Laura Stokowski, 5-10 Sr Waubonsie Valley; Jessica Ullrich, 5-10 Sr Wheaton North; Colleen Ward, 6- 2 Jr Naperville North; Kirsten Wicks, 6-2 Sr WW South; Autumn Worozaken, 5-10 Sr Barrington; Becca Zlabis, 5-11 Jr WW South