West Memphis’ Nelson to play for Jacksonville State

West Memphis’ Nelson to play for Jacksonville State

Blue Devils libero signs to take volleyball talents to the college level

WM School District A few years ago, when West Memphis’Anna Nelson decided to go all in for Metro Volleyball, her coach, Erica Lear, wasn’t quite sure what to make of the body language she saw that day.

“I wasn’t sure she felt like she would want to do this,” said Lear. “But she stuck with it and just got better and better.”

And what it’s led to for the Lady Devil senior is a scholarship she signed Thursday with Jacksonville State University.

Nelson’s signing party packed the hospitality room at Lehr Arena with family, friends, Lady Devil teammates, Metro teammates and former coaches.

Nelson’s bubbly personality stood out as she made a brief speech, thanking all that helped her get to Jacksonville State, a Division 1 school.

“I visited the school right after Christmas and I just loved it,” said Nelson, a three-year starter as a libero and defensive specialist at West Memphis. “It was a beautiful campus, set right in the Smoky Mountains in Alabama. The dorms are great, and I met the team.

They were all nice.”

Nelson’s first Metro coach eventually became her high school coach. Lear finished her first season as Lady Devils coach last fall.

Lear said she thinks Nelson will stand out once she gets to the Jacksonville campus.

“Anna is full of spunk and fire,” said Lear, herself a former college volleyball player at the University of Tennessee. “Whatever she wants out of that college career is exactly what she’s going to get. She’s the kind of kid who puts 110 percent in. I don’t think anything is going to stand in he way.”

Nelson said Jacksonville State plays a beach volleyball season in addition to the regular indoor schedule.

“I’ve played a little beach volleyball, but at Jacksonville they are about to start up their beach season and it lasts about two months,” Nelson stated. “Beach volleyball is harder because it’s just harder to move in the sand. I’m just excited for the opportunity that it’s going to give me because I couldn’t get that anywhere else. I’m gonna get stronger, and I’m so excited.”

Nelson said she will major in business and that she hopes to become a pharmaceutical sales rep.

By Billy Woods