Williams marks 4-year volleyball career
HUNTLEY — Huntley senior Lizzy Williams has experience in big post-season matches, as the Red Raiders have advanced to the Super-Sectional the last three seasons.
The Red Raiders (30-6 record) will try for a seventh straight regional championship against Dundee-Crown at Rockford East on Oct. 26. Williams, who has been on the varsity team for four seasons, recently answered survey questions about her career.
Describe your initial years in volleyball.
Williams: “I started playing volleyball when I was around 5 or 6-years old. When I was 7, I tried out for my first travel team at Sky High. I made their top 11-U team, but there were not enough girls to form a team. The next year, I tried out again and made their top 11-U team as an 8-year-old. For the next few years, I played against girls who were up to three years older than me. Growing up playing against older girls helped me with the transition to high school volleyball as a freshman on varsity.”
Who has helped you the most at middle school or high school?
Williams: “My family helped me the most in middle school and high school. Both my parents played sports when they were younger, and my older brother played travel baseball. They are extremely understanding when it comes to sports struggles, and they have always pushed me to overcome anything that’s thrown at me. Now that my older brother is playing baseball at Knox College, he has been showing me what playing college sports is really like.”
What sports other than volleyball have you participated in?
Williams: “I participated in basketball when I was younger and there were a few years when I somehow managed to do both basketball and volleyball at the same time. I eventually had to choose between one sport or another, and I chose volleyball. High school and travel volleyball has been my only sports commitment throughout high school.”
Which moment or achievement is your favorite memory so far?
Williams: “Every time we beat Barrington is always a season achievement in my book. Barrington is and is a tough team, and I always know it is going to be a good game. I feel like we play the best against better competition, and it always feels nice going home with a win against a good team.”
What will you miss most about volleyball?
Williams: “The thing I will miss most about volleyball is going out and competing. I love the feeling of pushing myself in practice, and just playing free in games. I’m not too worried about missing volleyball because I am continuing my career in college. I’ll know when my time with volleyball is up, but until then, I’m not there yet and I still don’t believe I have gotten close to playing my best volleyball.”
Describe how you show leadership to the team as a senior.
Williams: “I show my leadership to the team as a senior by bringing energy every game, picking up my teammates when they are down, and most importantly, consistently doing my job by always finding a way to contribute, even if I am not having my best game.”
College plans to continue to play volleyball, planned major and career goals?
Williams: “I plan on continuing my academic and volleyball at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. I want to major in pre physical therapy and possibly specialize in Pediatrics because I enjoy working with kids.”
