Summit standout Xariah Williams heads volleyball Super Team
Back-to-back trips to the regional semifinal round saw Mansfield Summit enjoy two of its best volleyball seasons since the school opened in 2002.
Linda Alfaro is the only coach the volleyball team has known, and the longtime guru has had the pleasure of coaching the best player in school history.
Senior Xariah Williams, a four-year starter with the school record for career kills, finished the season with 677 kills and the District 14-5A MVP award. She was also named the 2015 Star Telegram Super Team Volleyball Player of the Year.
Xariah was always a consistent, dynamic and reliable player all four years.
Mansfield Summit coach Linda Alfaro
“I feel honored being picked. Dallas-Fort Worth has tremendous talent and a lot of great girls,” Williams said. “It just shows that hard work pays off and that I’ve come a very long way over the past four years.
“From freshman year, where I could barely pass a ball to starting six rotations, whose ball control is a thousand times better — it brings me joy and I thank everyone who has taught me over these years and has given me guidance to be the player I am today.”
Williams led the Jaguars in the regular season with 586 kills and added 332 digs. Summit (37-6, 15-1 14-5A) won a share of the district title.
“Offense has always been my strength when it comes to volleyball,” Williams said. “I’ve worked a lot on hitting over the years and absolutely love that part of the game.”
I think the thing that sets Xariah apart from a lot of hitters is that she can hit from anywhere, and she could always make something out of nothing.
Coach Linda Alfaro
Her 677 total kills broke her school record of 502 set last year.
“Xariah was always a consistent, dynamic and reliable player all four years,” Alfaro said. “She’s a competitor and worked hard to be the best, and has a great sense of humor — just an all-around great kid and fun to be around.”
The Jaguars fell to Lucas Lovejoy in the Class 5A Region II tournament, but their 37 wins was a school record.
“Personally, it meant a lot to me,” Williams said. “The chemistry on the team was the best I’ve ever had and it’ll be hard to replicate that.”
She recorded 10 or more kills in 33 games, 20 or more in 12. She had a season-high 31 kills against Mansfield Legacy on Oct. 9.
“I think the thing that sets Xariah apart from a lot of hitters is that she can hit from anywhere, and she could always make something out of nothing,” Alfaro said.
Williams, who has led Summit in kills all four years, signed last month to play at Stephen F. Austin.
First team
OH Xariah Williams, Summit, Sr. — 586 regular-season kills, 5.1 kills per set, 332 digs and District 14-5A MVP award. Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state selection.
MB Olivia Viscuso, Lamar, Sr. — District 4-6A MVP with 471 regular-season kills, 528 total with .408 hitting percentage and 110 blocks, helping Lamar to school-record 42 wins. All-state selection.
OH Tori Woogk, Fossil Ridge, Sr. — District 5-6A Hitter of the Year after 575 kills (6.12 per game), 485 digs and 58 blocks. Signed with Clemson.
MB Katie Clark, Arlington, Soph. — District 4-6A Blocker of the Year had double digit kills in 36 games, 571 kills in regular season, 642 total, 0.389 hitting percentage and 87 blocks.
OH Amber Strange, Granbury, Jr. — District 8-5A MVP finished with 477 kills, 252 digs, 71 blocks and 43 aces. Double digit kills in 26 games. Selected to the TGCA all-star team.
S Erin Weiss, Aledo, Jr. — District 8-5A Setter of the Year recorded 30 or more assists in 23 games with 1,437 total and 438 digs and 50 aces.
Second team
OH Kailyn Gilbreath, Boswell, Jr. — UTA commit finished with 459 kills, .430 hitting percentage, 57 aces and 141 digs and was named 5-5A Offensive Player of the Year.
MB Maddie Goings, Aledo, Jr. — Oregon State commit was named District 8-5A Offensive MVP with 383 kills and 231 digs. Double digit kills in 25 games. All-state selection and TGCA all-star.
OH Cameryn Zahradnik, Keller, Jr. — 500 kills, 547 digs and 62 aces. First team in 5-6A. Had at least 10 kills in 30 games.
OH Courtney Bolf, North Crowley, Sr. — 403 kills and 473 digs. First team in 4-6A. Signed with Henderson State.
OH Taylor Kress, Grapevine, Sr. — Co-MVP in 6-5A with 345 kills, 295 digs and 65 aces. All-state selection signed with West Texas A&M.
S Brooke Fearka, Arlington, Sr. — 1,175 assists and 459 digs in regular season. First team in 4-6A.
Breakout Performer
S Kylie Courtney, Boswell, Soph. — In only her second year on varsity, first as the full-time setter, set school single-season record with 1,387 assists for the District 5-5A champs.
This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Summit standout Xariah Williams heads volleyball Super Team."