There’s an old adage in sports that players who earn their starting roles are more driven, more motivated and are willing to work harder for their success. For the Elon University softball team, that adage applies to junior center fielder Carleigh Nester.

Nester was recruited to join the Elon Phoenix from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, N.C. by former head coach Patti Raduenz.

“As soon as I came on the campus, I fell in love with it,” Nester said. “It was an immediate choice.”

The early commitment did not guarantee playing time for Nester. As Elon began its 2011 season, the then-freshman sat on the bench. Nester’s first career start came in the team’s seventh game – a contest against Morgan State on Feb. 19.  In the game, Nester was 2 for 3 with five RBI, earning her a starting spot that she has only relinquished once since that day.

“It really motivated me to work hard and earn my position on the field,” Nester said. “Watching the girls play out there, I was like ‘I want to be out there some day.’”

Current head coach Kathy Bocock, then an assistant, agrees with her star player.

“She understood when she got here that she had to work for it,” Bocock said. “She got the opportunity, and she never let go. She separates herself away from some of the other players because she works for everything.”

That season, Nester achieved a .377 batting average and had 29 RBI.  Though her batting average led the team as a freshman, Nester has still improved and matured in the eyes of her teammates and coach.

“Her freshman year, because she was an outfielder, I got to work with her as an assistant,” Bocock said. “She struggled being responsible at certain things, but sophomore year I saw her really coming around and this year, she takes leadership of a lot of things.”

Senior left fielder Tomeka Watson, who has played alongside Nester in the outfield for two seasons, has seen improvements to Nester’s on-field performance.

“She is definitely more disciplined at the plate,” Watson said. “On the field with defense, she has a complete game.”

Last season, Nester hit .338 with 33 RBI and five home runs. The effort was good enough to garner her a preseason All-Southern Conference second team nomination heading into 2013. Bocock believes Nester’s hard work has led her to success.

“Her work ethic day in and day out at practice is incredible,” Bocock said. “She plays at the same speed all the time. When it comes to games, she’s so used to doing what she does. That’s the thing that separates Carleigh.”

Nester has more than lived up to the hype in 2013. This season, she hit .370 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBI. Nester was named Southern Conference player of the month for the month of April. She hit .426 with 18 RBI in April, including one memorable blast.

On April 27 in a game at Furman University, the Phoenix was trailing 2-0 in the seventh inning and was down to its final out. Watson was at the plate and reached on an error.

“That was the game plan,” Watson said. “The game plan was for me to get on base to get her another opportunity to swing the bat.”

And swing the bat she did. Nester hit a two-run home run to tie the game.

“I was like, ‘Okay, do your job here,’” Nester said. “The girl threw me high inside and I hacked. It was the hardest swing I’d ever taken. It went over and I just took a deep breath.”

While Elon would eventually lose that game 3-2, Watson believes that moment will help the team in the long run.

"Us working together, it’s going to help us in the future,” Watson said.

That future for Nester includes a greater leadership role once Watson graduates at the end of the season.

“We’ll just keep right on in rhythm,” Bocock said. “Carleigh’s played with Tomeka for all three years. It’s going to keep increasing.”

“I’ve let the seniors take the role as leaders this year,” Nester said. “I’m going to have to step up for sure. It will be an adjustment, but I think I can do it.”

Sophomore infielder Grace Eng said she has already benefitted from Nester’s leadership.

“She has been a leader ever since I started with this team,” Eng said. “As a person she is a great leader, a great motivator, she tells you how it is and supports you. For me, it’s an incentive to get better.”

Nester helps lead the team off the field through her humor.

“I am a really good voice impersonator,” Nester said. “Freshman year we were playing in Florida, and I was talking in some weird accent and (Stetson University) thought I was from Canada.”

Watson pointed out another hidden talent about Nester – she can sing.

“She plays around all the time like she can’t,” Watson said. “But she actually can sing.”

It has been a rapid rise for Carleigh Nester within the Elon softball program. With another season in 2014 left to be played, the sky is the limit for this hard-working outfielder.