To play at the collegiate level is what every student athlete aspires to do. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication, not only athletically but also academically.
This was always the dream for senior volleyball player Kylee Nelson, and it came true this Wednesday on January 29th. Nelson officially signed on to play volleyball for the University of Pitt-Johnstown.
Pitt-Johnstown has a division two volleyball team and is highly competitive. During the 2024 season they had a winning record of 19-10 and made it to semi-finals in the regional tournament.
Nelson is excited to have the opportunity to play for such a prestigious team, and plans on majoring in political science to further her education. Her friends, family, teammates, and coaches couldn’t be more proud of how far she’s come.
“She has done amazing, and she is extremely athletic. I am so proud of how far she has come, and I can’t wait to see how she progresses in college,” said Lindsey Nelson, Kylee’s mother.
Nelson got her start in the Tyrone volleyball program eight years ago. She played through junior high, varsity, and club season since fifth grade.
She has been to club nationals many times, and she loves playing in the offseason.
“Her desire to be the best makes her a joy to coach, and it’s been amazing to watch her improve,” said Nelson’s club coach, Bob Oberheim.
Over her career she has excelled in every area of the sport. As a freshman Nelson was Tyrone’s starting libero, and she jumped into that role head first.
Nelson’s versatility has been one of her strengths, and has granted her a four year starting position. Although she has jumped positions countless times, her heart called to the back row.
Despite all of her success, she has also been faced with some difficult challenges. In her junior year, Nelson tore her labrum during track season and faced many months of recovery. This presented new hurdles during the preseason of her senior year.
“Coming off of surgery I had to learn to do things left-handed. I came into my senior season before I was supposed to. My come back date was October 10th, but I was able to play the whole season,” Nelson said.
Nelson is a major asset behind the serving line, hoping to keep that reputation she learned to serve left-handed. She also continued to lead the team in digs, with 262 her senior season. She also hit 1,000 digs this past year, a goal most back row players only dream of.
Head Coach Alesha Weaver could not be more proud of how Nelson has impacted the Tyrone program.
“She has had a tremendous impact on the program. She’s put in time on and off the court, and she is a perfect role model for younger players,” said Weaver.
Nelson has always been a positive force on the court and someone to look up to not only in her knowledge of the game, but also the way she lifts up her team. Her teammates know her to be a selfless, and hard working player.
She is always offering help to teammates who are struggling and never fails to boost team morale.
“She brings such a good atmosphere to volleyball and is so hard-working, I’ll miss having her and her attitude in the gym,” said junior teammate Elise Volders.
The Tyrone Eagle Eye wishes Nelson the best as she continues her athletic and academic career with the University of Pitt-Johnstown.
