To say Alyssa Elliott hates to lose would be an understatement.

It doesn't matter if the Madison Edgewood senior is challenging for a top grade, jamming to Guitar Hero on Nintendo Wii or calling first dibs on a prime couch position during a slumber party with her friends.

"She's competitive (at) everything," good friend and golf teammate Emily Hackworthy said. "We'll just be hanging out, watching TV and she'll be like, 'I get that spot' or 'I'll get upstairs before you will.'"

But nowhere is Elliott more eager to win than on the golf course, a place where she's established herself as one of the state's top junior girls players over the past two seasons.

And the University of Wisconsin recruit, along with Xavier-bound Alex Lake, have the Crusaders' dynasty headed toward their eighth straight WIAA state title — the last five coming in Division 2.

But Elliott, who tied for second at state the past two years, is also eyeing a state individual crown in her final year.

"That's been my goal since coming into high school, not only as a team but as an individual," Elliott said. "Yeah, I've been disappointed with my rounds because I know I can play better than what I have at the state tournament. I feel like I didn't play up to my ability.

"But hopefully this year's a different story."

If it's going to turn out differently, Elliott likely will be crediting her improved putting and tougher mental makeup for accomplishing the goal.

Elliott took the advice of her older sister, Katie — a former UW golfer and now a volunteer assistant coach for the Badgers — and moved her hands from behind the golf ball to ahead of it for a more consistent putting stroke and a smoother roll.

Plus, Elliott is working on putting bad holes and poor swings behind her instead of letting one mistake mess up her round.

"She's matured a lot," Edgewood coach Peggy Gierhart said. "She's learned a lot about herself. I think she can recover now where she couldn't before from a bad hole. And I think because of that is a big reason she's been shooting lower scores."

In her first four events this season, Elliott owns a nine-hole stroke average of 37, which included a 2-under-par 70 and victory at the 18-hole Madison City tournament at Yahara Hills Golf Course a week ago.

Gierhart believes more low rounds are on they way.

"She hasn't reached her peak yet, but who does in golf?" Gierhart said. "She's slowly improving over time and she's shooting lower numbers this year. Once you hit the lower numbers once or twice, you keep doing it. Your goals change."

At least one goal will never change for Elliott. Simply put, she wants to win every time she tees it up.

"If I lose, I get mad," Elliott said. "There's not one bone in my body that's not competitive. I hate losing at everything."