The area’s three liberos entering this week’s Wheaton Classic have one thing in common. They previously had other jobs, but love what the’re doing now.
Oak Park-River Forest senior Allie Nelson is the only three-year starter among the group, which includes seniors Brittany West from Hinsdale South and Nora Stack from Hinsdale Central.
OPRF, Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South are among lower-seeded teams at the 24-team Wheaton Classic, but they all hope that their libero, a specialized defensive player, helps them finish higher.
Nelson is a former outside hitter who moved to libero after her freshman year. In the offseason, she made a verbal commitment to play next season at Kansas.
“It’s the best position,” Nelson said. “Outside hitter is a glamour position, but I prefer to play libero. I love how you throw your body around the court. It’s a grind, getting those balls up, but it’s the best.”
Nelson is the third of four members of her family to play girls volleyball at OPRF, but the only one to play libero. Her mother and sisters played outside hitter for the Huskies. Ellen (Mullarkey) Nelson was one of the school’s top players in the 1980s and her daughters, Kiley, a 1984 graduate, and Maeve, a current sophomore, have followed the path of their mother.
“You have to be very confident with any position,” Allie Nelson said. “I feel after playing it as long as I have, I’ve become very confident at libero. You have to be confident in volleyball.
“(Playing libero) is hard You have to be positive.”
West and Stack are in their first year as liberos for their respective teams after playing defensive specialist. Both are trying to replace experienced liberos who have graduated: Renee Bilas for Hinsdale South and Alex Davis, who is currently playing at South Alabama after leaving Hinsdale Central.
Stack said Davis offered helpful advice over the years on playing libero full-time, compared to being a defensive specialist, where players appear only part-time in games or not at all. Davis finished her career ranked second in digs for Hinsdale Central.
“In her three years, Alex was teaching me about libero,” Stack said. “She said, ‘Always keep the ball in front of me. Do it as a positive way on the court.’ She said, ‘Be super aggressive.'”
Hinsdale South’s West broke a bone in her left hand Aug. 28 during the Plainfield North Invitational, but said she expects to receive clearance from her doctor to return to the lineup this week. West jammed her fingers while going after a ball in pool play and returned the following day for bracket play. She realized after the tournament that the pain in her hand would not go away.
West said she visited a few doctors before finding one who believed that she could return in a few weeks.
“I was looking forward to this part of the season,” West said.
West is only one of two seniors on the roster for Hinsdale South (3-7), which has relied heavy on its junior class. Junior Mauressa Aver replaced West while she healed.
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For all three teams, the Wheaton Classic is one of the biggest tournaments in the season, with defending Class 4A state champion Benet and south suburban powers Marist and Sandburg in the field.
Among the three area teams, OPRF (5-3) is the only one with a winning record after losing to Fenwick 25-23, 25-12 on Sept. 9.
The Huskies are the lowest seed in their pool scheduled to start on Wednesday, Sept. 16, against Wheaton North and Downers Grove North at Wheaton North. The tournament’s bracket round begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Wheaton Warrenville South. Hinsdale South also plays at Wheaton North against a pool field featuring Sandburg and Plainfield North.
“We have been competing very well this season with a young lineup and the experience we will get from playing these caliber of teams will only benefit us as the season progresses,” OPRF coach Don August said.
The Hornets are optimistic they can use lessons learned from earlier in the season to improve their record.
“I believe at the Wheaton Classic we can finish higher than we were seeded,” Hinsdale South coach Lisa Tazelaar said. “I would love to steal a win (in pool play). Both Plainfield North and Sandburg are tough, but we have competed with tough competition this year. We are excited about the tournament because it will be a challenge for us and there are a lot of good teams there.”
The Red Devils (6-7), who are in the same pool as Marist and Metea Valley at Wheaton Warrenville South, also have reasons to believe they can do well. They have bounced back after losing six of their first eight matches under first-year coach Mike Konrad.
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