Junior outside hitter Abbey Williams has some pretty exciting times waiting for her next season as a six-rotation player for Mother McAuley.
For now, she’s happy being — as Mighty Macs coach Jen DeJarld puts it — “the cog on our team that has made the biggest difference.”
Williams plays only four rotations. But you notice when she’s out there.
“Coach DeJarld has really improved me as an all-around player,” Williams said. “Her coaching, everything about her practices, just her coaching style has really helped me and built my confidence to play this position.”
Williams made the most of her chances Monday night as the host Mighty Macs defeated Sandburg 25-16, 25-15 in a Class 4A Mother McAuley Sectional semifinal match in Chicago.
Michigan recruit Ellie White led McAuley (33-5) with 13 kills. Williams added five kills and six digs, while Ellery Rees contributed four kills, Peyton Heatherly had 22 assists and Sam Falk finished with 27 digs.
Kate Walsh paced Sandburg (24-14) with seven kills. Madi Mulhausen and Elise Sterling added four kills apiece, while Reilly Chausse made 14 digs and Maya Rihani contributed 14 assists.
The Mighty Macs will play at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the sectional title against Marist (33-4), a 25-20, 25-21 winner over Lincoln-Way East in the other semifinal.
As usual, White dominated for McAuley against Sandburg. But Williams, who plays right back on three rotations and outside on the fourth, made her mark as well from start to finish.
With Sandburg leading 2-0 in the first game, she put down a tip for McAuley’s first point. It propelled the Mighty Macs on a 5-0 run. She also had a flurry of three kills near the end of the second game.
It was par for the course for Williams, whose season has seen nothing but upswings.
An outside hitter in club, there was simply no room for her there this season for the Mighty Macs.
“We obviously had Ellie and Sydney (Buchanan) in that position,” DeJarld said. “But I also thought, ‘I need Abbey on the floor. Where am I going to use her best?’ When we played a 6-2, she played right side. Then we went to a 5-1, and Mary Claire Deacy was our main right side.
“So, we started using Abbey as a right back defender. We keep her in for one rotation in the front row. She has just been great rolling with the punches.”
For the season, Williams has 67 kills and 130 digs.
And yes, she understood.
“Honestly, Ellie is a phenomenal player,” Williams said. “I knew I needed to help her out in any way possible. As long as I can be able to do that, I’m happy.”
White had no doubts Williams could adapt.
“Abbey is a very versatile player,” White said. “She can hit outside, she can hit right side, and she has done so well hitting back row. Coach DeJarld asks so much of her and she does it.
“She’s such a selfless player. She just plays for her team. It doesn’t matter what role. She steps into it and does it to the best of her ability. Her future is so bright.”
Williams’ season really took a turn at the ASICS Challenge.
In a 25-23, 20-25, 25-18 semifinal win over Divine Savior Holy Angels, she had three kills and seven digs. In the championship match against Notre Dame from Kentucky, she stood out with four kills, three blocks and eight digs.
“I knew what we were going for,” Williams said. “We wanted that win, so I just came out swinging big. Peyton put her sets right there — perfect for me.”
What Williams remembered the most, though, was what happened before the match.
“I had some grilled chicken made by Ellie’s dad,” Williams said, laughing. “It was really good, so props to them.”
