By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
EL DORADO - Last summer, Anna Williams got her first taste of being in the USA Volleyball training program. She'll get a bigger bite this summer. The junior-to-be at West Side Christian advanced through a tryout to earn a spot on the USA National A2 Invitational Team.
Williams will be one of 128 athletes in the program, which runs from July 26 through Aug. 1 in Colorado Springs. It's a step up for the lefty setter, who was placed in the A3 program last year in Las Vegas.
“I’m very excited. Whenever I found out I had got it, I went outside and screamed for about a straight minute," Williams said. "I'm excited to travel and see different places I haven't seen before and compete with different people."
According to the USA Volleyball website, the USA National A2 Invitational Team Program is designed to give more of the country’s top athletes the opportunity to work with top High Performance coaches at a competitive event. Players who participate in the program train for four days as a group, training in all skills and focusing on position-specific areas each day. On the fifth day, players are split into 16 tiered 8-player teams, in which they train for a full day under international rules and learn opponent scouting. The final two days of the program feature an international-style tournament culminating in a tournament championship on the final day.
Besides the High Performance Pipeline Coaches who are also college coaches working the A2 Program, coaches from across the country are invited to watch the competition portion of the event this summer.
Williams earned the spot in Colorado after attending a tryout in Dallas on April 26.
“There wasn’t that many girls at the tryouts this year, especially compared to last year," said Williams. "There were probably around 300 girls. Last year, it was around 500. So, there wasn’t as many. But, I guess I did better than last year since I’m on a better team.”
Things have changed for the Lady Warrior since last year. She's increased her weightroom training, focusing on squats, dead lifts and clean-and-jerk lifts. The result is a muscular 167 pounds on her 6-foot-1 frame.
“I’ve been working out a lot more, getting stronger," said Williams, who said she didn't know the results from her drills in Dallas but was sure she improved on her 24-inch vertical leap of a year ago. She's also chosen a role model for her play on the court, former Penn State All-American, Micha Hancock, a 5-11, lefthanded setter.
Another adjustment from last year is Williams is now focused solely on volleyball. For the first time, she did not play for West Side Christian's high school basketball team. Instead, she competed for Rocket Fuel Volleyball Club's 17-year-old team out of Ruston, coached by Louisiana Tech setter Brooke Taylor.
Williams, along with West Side teammates Lauren Land and Brooklin Pitard, traveled to Ruston twice a week for practices.
"It's a lot easier because we carpool and sometimes their parents take us. So, it's not just me going with my parents every week. It's a lot easier on my parents, too," said Williams, who as a freshman competed for TC Elite in Shreveport and drove to practice two-to-three times a week while playing basketball for the Lady Warriors.
"It was a lot easier. My legs were not as tired, that's for sure," she said. "Whenever I was playing volleyball, I wasn't extremely tired. I was still a little bit tired but I definitely saw a difference."
Williams had made All-State in basketball at West Side so giving up the sport was a significant sacrifice.
"I also missed it a lot. I missed all of the players and playing with my team from last year," she said. "Yeah, I had a lot of people trying to get me to play again. But, it's just a lot easier."
Williams said she has received interest from a number of Division II programs. She hopes the interest from bigger schools will pick up once her junior year begins. She will compete in the Dallas Skyline Junior Volleyball Showcase June 2-3. She also plans to attend the University of Kentucky volleyball camp on July 6.