Emily Williams, a sophomore libero for Catawba Valley Community College and former star at North Iredell High, won a national Defensive Player of the Week award this week./CODY DALTON, CATAWBA VALLEY ATHLETICS PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Emily Williams, a sophomore libero from Iredell County, has won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Defensive Player of the Week while leading Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC).
Williams, who played high school volleyball at North Iredell, had 119 digs (5.95 per set) last week, helping the Red Hawks win three matches that included two against NCAA Division I teams Spartanburg Methodist and Vincennes University.
“I am incredibly honored to be this week’s NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week,” Williams said in a CVCC press release. “I’ve seen a lot of great competition out there, and knowing the NJCAA chose me is a great feeling.”
Williams is the first Red Hawks volleyball player to earn a weekly NJCAA honor since Mariah Wallace did in October of 2016.
Williams went into competition on Friday in Florida with 848 career digs, which ranks her fourth all-time at CVCC.
“I am so excited that Emily was honored with this well-deserved award for a generally less recognized position,” CVCC head coach Shannon Hudson said in the press release. “She is such a competitor and definitely the leader for our team defensively, and I couldn’t be prouder of her hard work and leadership so far this fall.”