As the ball comes flying toward her, a million thoughts surface in her mind. She begins to feel nervous as she recalls the exact steps she must complete to set the ball. With knees bent, she sets the ball toward her outside hitter. Her teammate spikes the ball, sending it flying to the other side of the court. The ball hits the ground with a loud smack. Seconds later, the audience cheers as the team receives a point.

When she was in elementary school, senior Isis Williams began playing volleyball, but she didn’t take it seriously until her freshman year of high school. Since then, Williams has become dedicated to playing volleyball and has accepted Florida A&M University’s offer to play volleyball. Initially, Williams did not have a dream school in mind. After accepting FAMU’s offer, she felt as though she made the right decision because the coaches had their eyes set on her.

“I’m really excited about it to be honest, I think I’m going to do really good there and I’m going to blossom as a player and as a person,” Williams said. “It’s going to prepare me better for my future. I just thought it fit me personally [since] I was born in Florida [and] every time I visited I just loved the vibe down there. It was so beautiful and I wanted to go back and experience [it].”

Since Williams started playing volleyball in school and club volleyball outside of school her freshman year, volleyball coach Libby Rodriguez saw how hard Williams works at not only improving her skills as a player but as a leader as well.

“She is one of [a] kind, she has very high expectations [for] herself and always pushes herself to be better,” Rodriguez said. “I am so proud for her, I just feel like it goes to show that if you show perseverance, love for something and the will to work, then anything is possible. Everything she has been working for the last four years has paid off.”

Williams hopes to not only improve herself mentally by voicing out her thoughts and learning how to be a leader but also physically by becoming faster and jumping higher. She plans on achieving this by working harder during practices, asking questions and giving her best effort overall while at FAMU.

“I think [volleyball has] made me tougher and more susceptible to things that might try and distract me from where I want to be and where I want to go in my life,” Williams said. “I know my teammates are always going to have my back so it’s going to keep me from getting in my head and feeling like I’m just so alone. Knowing I’m making an impact on them as much as I am myself is what keeps me going.”

Senior Christina Cowsert admires Williams’ passion for volleyball and her ability to make any situation better. After meeting Williams during their freshman year, Cowsert noticed how Williams is able to do tasks her own way and make it work.

“She adapts; she’s not one to complain but if there’s something that needs to be done she will be the first one to say what to do and start doing it,” Cowsert said. “I’m hoping to see this take her somewhere she really enjoys. I know it’s something she’s been wanting to do for a long time.”

Junior Emerson Coburn has noticed how Williams has changed mentally with how she isn’t hard on herself anymore but also how she has become stronger and faster since meeting her.

“She’s a great leader, she brings a lot of energy to the court and she puts in 150 percent into everything she does,” Coburn said. “She is one of our rocks you could say; if she’s not there, things are going to fall apart.”

Although Williams has grown up knowing volleyball, she would like to study to become an occupational therapist for special needs kids. She believes they are the most impressionable and wants to be an influential person for them.

“I just really have a passion for things like that, this year especially [because] I’ve been mentoring special needs kids,” Williams said. “I want to help people and just be able to make an impact on people lives.”

Williams believes volleyball has made her into an outstanding person because she’s worked hard to improve herself. She stays motivated by reminding herself of how everyone important to her likes to see her play, even though at times she doesn’t want to go to practice. Williams has come to love the team aspect of volleyball and the feeling of having sisters.

“It’s totally worth the pain that you might feel,” Williams said. “It’s worth getting up early in the mornings and staying late after school. Maybe you don’t want to be there, but it’s going to be worth it in the long run. Everything about volleyball is just amazing.”