High School Preview – Rebekah Williams – 2022 Outside
This month I will be rolling out some articles that are a little different than we have been writing for the past couple of months. I will still be doing our regular highlight articles on multiple athletes for exposure, however…
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Continue ReadingThis month I will be rolling out some articles that are a little different than we have been writing for the past couple of months. I will still be doing our regular highlight articles on multiple athletes for exposure, however I wanted to do some special articles on a few special athletes that we are getting to know quite well with Prep Dig TX. These young ladies volunteered to discuss their upcoming high school season and how they are planning on getting ready for it. In the spring, I have written about her school Smithson Valley. Bekah was picked because of the fact that she will bear a lot of the offensive load for this upstart team who is looking to make a name for themselves in a new district. I thought it would be a good idea for our readers to get some insight into what a leader on a great team in this position thinks about in regards to her upcoming high school season. Without further ado, here is our article on Miss Rebekah Williams Rebekah Williams 6'0" | OH Smithson Valley | 2022 State TX .
Rebekah Williams Rebekah Williams 6'0" | OH Smithson Valley | 2022 State TX [2022] 6-0 Outside (HS: Smithson Valley/Club: Alamo/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Rebekah is currently ranked as the 52nd best prospect in the 2022 class according to our Prep Dig State Rankings. She is a true six-rotation pin hitter who can do it all. We wrote an article on her school Smithson Valley earlier this spring and here is a little excerpt, “Coach Patton says that Bekah is an explosive player with so much contagious energy when she plays. She will be a threat for Smithson Valley on the outside with her versatility in offense. Bekah is a blocking machine and we can’t wait to watch her tear down opponents. She plays outside on her club team at nationally known club Alamo. She plays with a lot of fire and intensity. At Prep Dig, we love players like this. She has a cannon for an arm and will be one of the main offensive weapons for the Smithson Valley program this season. She has all fo the tools necessary to be a dominant force at the net. We expect great things from Bekah moving forward.” When you watch this young lady play the game you are taken to a place mentally where you feel her energy. When she celebrates a kill, it is so contagious. I love players like this. She jumps so well off of the ground which helps her ability to get on top of a ball and obliterate it. She can swing in the seam of the block or go around them to hit line. And boy can she hit with power. She swings so well on both pins and there isn’t a shot she doesn’t have in her bag of tricks. Colleges should really take a look at this young lady as she will not disappoint. I have a feeling she could be moving up my rankings soon.
Here is a little quote from Bekah about her upcoming season – “This upcoming season is going to be one for the books. Not only do we have a team full of amazing talented girls and a great coach to lead us to victory, but after being sidelined by the pandemic, we are all biting at the bits to get together on that court. One of our biggest strengths will be our unity as a team. I’ll be entering my 3rd season and I feel like this year with these girls, we’ve got what it takes to go far and are closer than I’ve ever seen.”
The Rangers used to be in 26-6A, but after UIL realigned the districts, they are now in 27-6A. They have made the playoffs seventeen times out of the last two decades and have made it to the area round 11 times in that time as well. They are looking to go a little deeper in the playoffs this coming year due to the play of a few stellar upperclassmen that have more experience. As we stated earlier, Bekah will be one of the offensive leaders for this team this season. We were able to sit down with Bekah and here is a little from the conversation:
Prep Dig TX: Why Volleyball? Why is it so important to you? What do you love about it?
Bekah: I fell in love with the game while watching my big sister play because of the joy it brought her. Why it’s important and what I love most about volleyball are the same. It’s the absolute joy it brings me while on the court, I don’t take that for granted, and the feeling after I play a game or after practice …it’s a feeling know else can feel but you. If you work hard everytime you step on the court, no matter if it’s game time or practice time, you feel accomplished and you’ve bettered yourself which is an amazing feeling!
Prep Dig TX: What do you love about your position on the court the most?
Bekah: I love playing as a 6 rotation pin hitter. I believe it gives me the best opportunity to help my team most. I love hitting and blocking but also find passing super fun. Anyone who watches me play can tell you that positive energy and passionate playing is my thing:) I think the court energy can make or break a game and no matter what the scoreboard shows, the game is never over until the last point is won. I feel a responsibility to encourage my teammates to give their all to the very end, keep the communication on the court going, and maintain extreme focus.
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking forward to most this season?
Bekah: One thing I’m looking forward to is to simply have a season and a sense of normalcy. I’m looking forward to watching how our team grows throughout the season and planning on a playoff run.
Prep Dig TX: What do you think your biggest obstacle this year compared to last year’s school season? How do you plan to overcome it?
Bekah: Honestly, Covid because we could be on fire but then could be shut down at a moments notice. So, keeping everyone on the same page and being careful on and off the court will be key. Other than that I think our late start and minimal preseason will be an obstacle. As a leader on our team I’m going to help our team to focus on our team goal, which means we all will have to be extra careful on and off the court. And although our minimal preseason isn’t ideal, our coaches are working hard to do what they can to help us be ready. We have a great team this year and I think if we stay focused on the end goal we will be just fine.
Prep Dig TX: What are three individual goals that you have for this high school season?
Bekah: Well, I usually like to focus on team more than me but since you asked….
A very reachable goal that I personally have is regarding my measurable stats. I plan to be 25% to 50% better across the board. Kills, blocks, digs, aces, & more. I think it is very reachable because I know I’ve not only gotten bigger, better, & stronger but my volleyball IQ and court awareness is way better. Now 25% on my vertical may be tough but I want to at least maintain my 10’ mark and maybe add an inch or two.
Another goal I have is getting straight A’s. There are many unknowns with classes, which might make that more challenging but it’s a goal for me still.
And lastly, it is one of my main goals to stay healthy, injury-free, & mentally strong. This season will be different, so I will have to be even more focused on staying healthy, taking care of my body, and paying close attention to my mental heath and focusing on what I can control. There’s so much I can’t control, so staying laser focused on what I can control will be what helps me the most. If I can reach those goals, other goal I have will fall into place
Prep Dig TX: Finish this Sentence…this high school volleyball season I’m going to _____
Bekah: This Volleyball season I’m going to appreciate every moment I get to play with my Ranger sisters! I’m going to give my all, I’m going to help those around me to be their best, and I’m going to “Bleed Blue”
Prep Dig TX: What did Covid-19 do to you mentally during this long shutdown? How have you coped with it?
Bekah: I was in Denver for Colorado Crossroads and preparing for the college showcase when the reality of this pandemic hit me. My mom told me the whole weekend was cancelled the night before the showcase and I was confused and very disappointed. With all my heart I wanted to be on that court. I was really hitting my best season ever and my club team was clicking so well and everyone was at the top of their game. Then another tournament was cancelled, then practices, and the next thing I knew the whole season. My head knew it was out of safety but my heart was crushed. Since I played up a year on 17‘s, I felt like this was the last season I had to show the college coaches what I’ve got. I felt like I was playing my best volleyball ever, plus I finally hit my vertical goal of 10 feet! Unknowns and disappointments piled up and that was the theme of spring but as the summer camp invites rolled in, I thought at least I had that. I knew logically I couldn’t go to them all but then those were cancelled too. With all that disappointment and constant change, I refused to let it change me and my positive outlook. That took a lot of intentional refocusing. I didn’t know what was going to happen but my family reminded each other, especially on our down days, that God is not surprised by any of this and to have faith in His ultimate plan. When I returned home from Denver, right before everything was shutdown, my sister and some of her VB teammates from Liberty University was at our house for their spring break. That made it fun for a week. We all worked out and peppered a lot. My brother came home for his spring break from the University of Wyoming which then was extended through May and then my sister, who left after spring break, returned home for another 2 to 3 weeks. So having 2 of my 3 siblings back home from college (my oldest sister had just started a new job in Colorado) was nice. Also, they are both D1 athletes (football & Volleyball) with trainers sending them suggested workouts. So, like normal I just jumped in the mix of it:) My family is incredibly competitive and focused. It’s not a “everyone’s a winner” mentality in our family but more of an “earn everything”, chip on your shoulder, and prove it by action kind of mentality. Because of this, we push each other hard to be our best and keep each other accountable on controlling what we can control and not what we can’t. We coped by focusing and working on what we could control and enjoying the rare opportunity of time together.
In conclusion, the last 6 months have not been easy but there have been some sweet moments too. I got to hang with my family more than ever, my body and joints got some rest, June 15th and the weeks since have been amazing getting to know coaches and knowing I’ll have a chance to play in college. With the extra time, I recently got a job at a local boutique and love it. Once I was able to get back on the court, my sister and I got to practice together which was very cool. I was super grateful when the USAV made the temporary rule change that will allows me to play with my graduating class, my birthday was 2 weeks too early before. Now I’m preparing for season, working hard and hoping for the best and praying we get a full season.
I loved Bekah’s honest answers as to how she has been dealing with this huge change in our volleyball culture with the COVID pandemic. I hope it gives our readers a true insight into what these players are dealing with. I love how she is remaining positive and thankful. We are excited for her and her high school program and cannot wait to watch them this season. I decided to write a few articles on players such as her so that our readers can get a true understanding of what these athletes go through and how volleyball is a passion for them like it is for many of us. These players deserve all of the recognition that they can get. I will be rolling these out throughout the month along with our regular highlight articles that contain multiple athletes.
We will be publishing more articles daily to give the recognition to each athlete that has earned the right to be called a top 100 Texas Volleyball Player. Stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for or that you think have what it takes to be added to our database, please shoot me an email with some info at nov8vb@yahoo.com