Nansemond-Suffolk Academy junior Logan Harrell earned her way onto the school’s elite girls’ volleyball team as a freshman, and the experience she has gained since then has put her in a great position to lead this year’s squad.

Harrell has established herself as a standout in the Lady Saints’ service game, a solid outside hitter and a tremendous defender. Particularly because of her prowess as a defender and a server, she has become the Duke Automotive-Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week.

Starting the year as an outside hitter, Harrell has been moved to the libero position, which is located in the back row and focuses on playing defense.

The transition was a surprising one for Harrell, but not unpleasant.

“I have loved it,” she said. “Being libero has definitely become my favorite part of the game, and hitting was always fun, but defense was always my favorite thing to do since I started playing volleyball.”

She noted that she first switched positions during a weekend tournament earlier in the season but saw it as a temporary move.

Later, coach Robyn Ross pulled her aside, communicating her plan to make it a permanent shift.

Ross said, “(She) and I talked about it, and I thought that she could make the biggest impact as the libero, but even I had no idea that she was going to embrace this role and be as successful as she has been. So she’s just done an amazing job, not just last week, but every week.”

The week of Oct. 18 was special, though. In a 3-2 home victory over Norfolk Academy on Oct. 20, Harrell had 46 digs, which Ross stated is the most by an NSA player in a single match since statistics started being taken six years ago when she took over as coach. Harrell also had five aces in that match.

During a 3-0 Lady Saints home win on Oct. 22 against Cape Henry Collegiate School, Harrell finished her week strong with 26 digs, three aces and two kills.

“I had no idea that I even had that many digs and aces in those games in the moment,” she said. “I was really shocked and surprised, but I thought I played really well.”

With strong senior leaders like Kaylor Nash and Caylin Harris having moved on to the college court, Harrell has become a vocal leader for Nansemond-Suffolk.

“I think it started during club season; I was the captain of our club team,” she said, referring to the Nansemond Volleyball Club that plays in NSA’s offseason and features several NSA players. “I really got the experience of being a leader in practices and games and tournaments, and it just carried over.”

Additionally, Harrell has contributed to great success since being on the varsity team, with her freshman and sophomore seasons ending in state championships fueled by great leaders.

“So being around all of those players, getting to sort of understand and be a part of that winning culture is now one of the things that she’s teaching to the younger girls that are coming up,” Ross said.