TicketsCINCINNATI - Volleyball senior Shannon Williams was a serial winner during her high school career for Brecksville-Broadview Heights in her hometown of Broadview Heights, Ohio.
Williams was Greater Cleveland Sports Awards 2017 Female High School Athlete of the Year, First Team All-Ohio, Conference Player of the Year, District Player of the Year and team MVP, all while leading her team to a 21-6 record in 2018 to win the league championship.
In her junior year, her team won the league, district and state titles while she was Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, First Team All-Ohio, conference Player of the Year and district Player of the Year.
Shannon won all these awards as a setter. However, prior to the 2020 season, which ended up being played in the spring of 2021, coach Molly Alvey wanted her to be attacking on the right-side, a completely different position than what Williams had played up until that point.
"If I am going to switch, I am going to be the best in that position,' said Williams.
This season, she has reached double-digits in kills in 10 out of their 14 regular season matches after only having a total of 81 through the first three seasons at UC.
"I know my team depends on me and I take a lot of pride in that. I wouldn't be where I am without my teammates. They helped me in my position change, along with my coaches," said Williams.
Shannon has not only thrived in the position change, she is having fun while doing it, too.
"Being able to switch gears and only look to attack is so fun and I wouldn't change it for the world."
Adversity is a normal occurrence throughout an athletic season, such as a position change, but COVID-19 was a much bigger disturbance. Williams said she learned to be grateful for every game and practice that is uninterrupted, even with the short turnaround between a spring season and a traditional fall season.
"I never had to do this before and it definitely has taken a toll on us mentally and physically," she said.
Adversity offers an opportunity to learn and grow collectively as a team, or individually, and Williams realized this chance for growth.
"It taught us so much… like how to go through adversity in our normal season and now we can look back and say 'we've been through much worse.' We have been there and done that," emphasized Williams.
It also taught Williams to cherish her senior season here at UC and what she is doing to make it memorable.
"It's my senior season and the last time wearing Cincinnati across my chest. It is about making great plays on the court and making my days great at this amazing University. It's an amazing feeling to be a Bearcat."
Williams came to Cincinnati in 2018, along with her good friend Maria Mallon. These two have been through all the ups-and-downs together these past four years, and Williams enjoys seeing Mallon accomplish all she has, such as reaching 1,000 kills in her career recently.
"She is incredible and she is playing so well, and I am so excited to end my senior season with her," said Williams.
First-year players, such as Abby Walker and Emme Madden, have had impactful roles this year as well. Williams acknowledges the energy they bring to the team and how they have fit in from day one.
"Freshman are the glue of this team and they bring fresh air to this program," she said, "They are so fun and we love having them."
The freshmen have stepped up in big moments this season for the Bearcats. Madden won AAC Offensive Player of the Week on October 11th and Walker won the same award the week before and also took home an AAC Honor Roll award earlier this year.
Williams is hoping that winning these awards will make the team hungrier for more this winter.
"We all have our eyes on the conference championship...everyone has their eyes set on the conference championship and if you want that, you will fit in," said Williams.
Williams said the grit and fight from this year's team is what will make for continued success for the rest of the season.
"We have a lot of grit and we continue to work on it, but we are still learning how to fight and that helps us grow," she said.
Williams had words of wisdom for her freshman-self, too.
"I'd tell myself don't take it for granted...it goes so quickly and I know everyone says that, but especially with COVID...it felt like I took three steps back. I want those moments back so bad. So just make sure to enjoy it," she said.
The Bearcats (10-4, 5-1 AAC) are back in action on Friday when they travel to Oklahoma to take on Tulsa at 8 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.
Williams was Greater Cleveland Sports Awards 2017 Female High School Athlete of the Year, First Team All-Ohio, Conference Player of the Year, District Player of the Year and team MVP, all while leading her team to a 21-6 record in 2018 to win the league championship.
In her junior year, her team won the league, district and state titles while she was Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, First Team All-Ohio, conference Player of the Year and district Player of the Year.
Shannon won all these awards as a setter. However, prior to the 2020 season, which ended up being played in the spring of 2021, coach Molly Alvey wanted her to be attacking on the right-side, a completely different position than what Williams had played up until that point.
"If I am going to switch, I am going to be the best in that position,' said Williams.
This season, she has reached double-digits in kills in 10 out of their 14 regular season matches after only having a total of 81 through the first three seasons at UC.
BACK TO BACK TO TIE THE GAME!
— Cincinnati VBall (@GoBearcatsVB) September 26, 2021
The senior does it again and now has 11 kills in the game.
Set 3: Cincinnati 3, UCF 3 pic.twitter.com/I2VeIm2NtY
"I know my team depends on me and I take a lot of pride in that. I wouldn't be where I am without my teammates. They helped me in my position change, along with my coaches," said Williams.
Shannon has not only thrived in the position change, she is having fun while doing it, too.
"Being able to switch gears and only look to attack is so fun and I wouldn't change it for the world."
Adversity is a normal occurrence throughout an athletic season, such as a position change, but COVID-19 was a much bigger disturbance. Williams said she learned to be grateful for every game and practice that is uninterrupted, even with the short turnaround between a spring season and a traditional fall season.
"I never had to do this before and it definitely has taken a toll on us mentally and physically," she said.
Adversity offers an opportunity to learn and grow collectively as a team, or individually, and Williams realized this chance for growth.
"It taught us so much… like how to go through adversity in our normal season and now we can look back and say 'we've been through much worse.' We have been there and done that," emphasized Williams.
It also taught Williams to cherish her senior season here at UC and what she is doing to make it memorable.
"It's my senior season and the last time wearing Cincinnati across my chest. It is about making great plays on the court and making my days great at this amazing University. It's an amazing feeling to be a Bearcat."
Williams came to Cincinnati in 2018, along with her good friend Maria Mallon. These two have been through all the ups-and-downs together these past four years, and Williams enjoys seeing Mallon accomplish all she has, such as reaching 1,000 kills in her career recently.
"She is incredible and she is playing so well, and I am so excited to end my senior season with her," said Williams.
More to celebrate 🎉
— Cincinnati VBall (@GoBearcatsVB) October 3, 2021
Congratulations @maria_mallon - in her last kill of the day she officially hit 1,000 career kills‼️ pic.twitter.com/Apvc09AWXB
First-year players, such as Abby Walker and Emme Madden, have had impactful roles this year as well. Williams acknowledges the energy they bring to the team and how they have fit in from day one.
"Freshman are the glue of this team and they bring fresh air to this program," she said, "They are so fun and we love having them."
The freshmen have stepped up in big moments this season for the Bearcats. Madden won AAC Offensive Player of the Week on October 11th and Walker won the same award the week before and also took home an AAC Honor Roll award earlier this year.
Williams is hoping that winning these awards will make the team hungrier for more this winter.
"We all have our eyes on the conference championship...everyone has their eyes set on the conference championship and if you want that, you will fit in," said Williams.
Williams said the grit and fight from this year's team is what will make for continued success for the rest of the season.
"We have a lot of grit and we continue to work on it, but we are still learning how to fight and that helps us grow," she said.
Williams had words of wisdom for her freshman-self, too.
"I'd tell myself don't take it for granted...it goes so quickly and I know everyone says that, but especially with COVID...it felt like I took three steps back. I want those moments back so bad. So just make sure to enjoy it," she said.
The Bearcats (10-4, 5-1 AAC) are back in action on Friday when they travel to Oklahoma to take on Tulsa at 8 p.m. ET.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Follow the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can follow Head Coach Molly Alvey on Twitter.