Every time Jessica Williams steps on the volleyball court, she’s playing because of someone who is no longer able to be there.
Williams’ father passed away when she was 10 years old after a brain tumor forced him into a coma for the final two months of his life.
“I play volleyball because of my father,” Williams said. “He grew up in Hawaii and introduced me to the game. Since I was little, I’ve always watched it and played it. My dream is to go to California and play beach volleyball.”
First-year coach Charita Stubbs said she shares a bond with Williams because the volleyball coach also lost her father at age 10.
“There are things you miss out on, but you always sit back and use that as motivation,” Stubbs said. “It adds pressure too — trying to live up to these expectations you put on yourself.”
Williams, a sophomore in communication from Houston, turns 20 in six days. But she said she hopes to play a major role as Stubbs tries to rebuild the Wolfpack’s volleyball program.
“She’s the type of player that has a lot of volleyball knowledge,” Stubbs said. “Things just seem to come easy for her. She’s very adaptable, giving us an all-around player.”
Stubbs said she’s surprised sometimes by how much Williams knows about the game.
“She can see plays develop before the rest of the team does sometimes, and that comes from playing at a high level,” she said. “You’ll be watching and it’ll seem like she’s out of position. But then the ball goes right to her. She’s a true competitor who can achieve anything.”
Williams transferred to State this year after playing her freshman season at the University of Texas at El Paso in the Western Athletic Conference.
She said playing at UTEP was a learning experience. As a true freshman, Williams played in 84 games, starting 20 of the Miners’ 27 matches, while helping lead the team to a 21-10 record. Williams finished second on the team with 73 blocks, and she tallied 159 kills.
“There was a lot of learning going on,” Williams said. “Starting as a freshman was kind of scary at times. When we played Baylor, it seemed like all their girls were more than six-feet-tall.”
“But once you get your first kill, your first block or your first dig, you can get comfortable and play your game. The joy when you beat teams like that is a great experience because no one thinks you can do it.”
After spending her freshman year at UTEP, Williams said she decided she needed a change of scenery. One of her assistant coaches at UTEP helped her with the transfer process.
The coach mentioned Stubbs made the move from Arizona to Raleigh to take over the volleyball program at State. From there, Williams said she and Stubbs connected, eventually leading her to State.
“Coach Stubbs thought I would be a great fit at State, and she recruited me and allowed [me] to come in,” Williams said. “I had a few choices about where to transfer, but I thought coach Stubbs was a really good coach. I wanted to be the best, and I knew coach Stubbs pushes her players to be the best.”
The Pack, in the midst of nine consecutive losing seasons going into this season, had a 33-122 record from 2001-2005, including winning just two of its last 86 ACC matches en route to six consecutive last-place finishes. But that did not deter Williams — she said it actually helped bring her to State.
“I came here because I wanted to be a part of the rebuilding project,” Williams said. “I wanted to help State become one of the top teams in the ACC. I knew it was going to be a rebuilding process, but I liked that because I wanted to help.”
Williams has a lot of experience for a sophomore, having played, and won, against some tough teams at UTEP, something Stubbs said is a plus.
“I knew who she was from when I was at Arizona, and I knew she could help us coming from the WAC, which is a really tough volleyball conference,” Stubbs said.
As long as Williams gives her all on a daily basis, Stubbs said both Williams and the team will continue to improve. But, according to Stubbs, “giving her all” depends on the individual.
“I don’t want the players to compare themselves to each other; it depends on the individual,” she said. “As long as you give all that you’re capable of giving, you’re doing your job. She gives her all, but there’s more there to tap.”
Stubbs said if she and the staff put in enough work with Williams, she’ll continue to improve.
“It’s just a matter of helping a young player continue to develop,” Stubbs said.