Lady Warrior's dreams come true on signing day
The snow on the ground Wednesday morning was just the beginning of Anna Williams’ special day. The senior at West Side Christian, after years of dedication and perseverance, saw her dream come true when she signed her national letter-of-intent to play volleyball at the University of Central Arkansas.
The 6-foot-1 left-hander started playing volleyball in the fifth grade. A naturally gifted athlete, it didn’t take long for Williams to set a lofty goal for herself.
“It wasn't until the seventh grade that I knew I was going to do whatever it took to play D-I volleyball,” she said. “It would be a lie if I said the route to reach the collegiate level was easy. During the eight years of my training and dedication, not everything went my way. From people who doubted my ability to play on the collegiate level, to my yearlong recovery after ACL and meniscus reconstruction, every bump in the road I have gone through, I have taken as motivation to become a better athlete and to prove that my athletic abilities are God-given.”
Williams injured her knee early in her junior season, a few weeks after she verbally committed to UCA. She returned to the court this season and led the Lady Warriors with 136 kills to go along with 73 assists and 64 aces.
“She strikes the ball with a power that few in our league can match,” said West Side coach Adam Willett. “That power, along with her ability to play big at the net and her overall headiness for the game, was huge for our team.”
Willett, who became Williams’ fifth coach at West Side and fourth since the ninth grade, said she showed steady improvement as her confidence in her knee grew.
“Only getting to coach Anna for this one year, I'm not able to compare her ability on the court with how she was before the injury. I will say, however, that I thought her mobility and overall play improved throughout the year,” he said. “I think she was hesitant at times early in the season, but she quickly grew in aggression and confidence. She showed great leadership by putting her body on the line and really playing hard. Every team needs girls that are willing to dive on the floor for a dig and play quick on their feet. For many girls, that's a mindset that they can't seem to figure out. For Anna, as the season progressed, she grew in confidence and willingness to dive on the floor.”
Williams, along with senior Lauren Land and junior Brooklin Pitard, formed the core of the Lady Warriors’ AACS state runner-up squad. Williams was named AACS co-Player of the Year.
A setter and rightside hitter for the Lady Warriors, she won’t have
to change positions in college.
“We are excited to add Anna to our program,” said UCA coach Jeni Jones Chatman. “We know that Anna brings a strong work ethic and competitive drive that is needed not only in her position but to play at the collegiate level. We know we are adding a good person and good student-athlete in Anna. We have recruited Anna to be a setter and a right side attacker.”
West Side Christian’s senior class witnessed her signing ceremony, which featured three speakers and a live stream from the Lady Warriors’ gymnasium.
“It’s a lot more elaborate than I thought it was going to be,” Williams said afterward. “I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported me.”
She chose UCA over Troy University at the beginning of her junior year. She never wavered, cancelling all other official visits.
“I chose to play volleyball at the University of Central Arkansas because the coaches and players were so genuinely welcoming. They made me feel at home and after my visit I was content with not visiting any other colleges. I knew for a fact that UCA was where I wanted to spend the four years of my collegiate volleyball career,” she said.
Playing club volleyball and competing nationally in the USA volleyball pipeline were major keys to Williams’ improvement and success. She played two years with TC Elite and one year with Rocket Fuel, where she will play again this year. She’s also been in the USA Volleyball High Performance Program for two years.
“All the years of constant commitment and continual obligation to the sport have finally paid off,” she said. “Now that the day for me to officially sign with the University of Central Arkansas has come, I know that it is only the beginning.
“My collegiate experience is close to starting and I can only improve from here on out. There are still many skills that I can improve on and I look forward to bettering my abilities on and off the court.”
West Side Christian School celebrated Williams’ signing. She’s the school’s home-grown talent, a Lady Warrior since kindergarten. Willett said West Side will continue cheering for her, even when she’s in Conway wearing UCA purple.
“Combined with her love for the game, the grounding that she's had at home, church, and school will be a tremendous benefit to her at the next level. I am confident that she can be terrific addition to her next team, both as a player and as a leader,” said Willett. “It has been a joy for us at West Side to be a part of her life, and we are excited to see her compete and grow at UCA.”