Williams named AMC Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd time this season

Submitted photo DEFENSE ON DISPLAY: Lyon senior libero Madisson Williams, center, makes a dig in a recent match for the Scots. Williams leads the team in digs and digs per set after earning her second American Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week award of the season.
Submitted photo DEFENSE ON DISPLAY: Lyon senior libero Madisson Williams, center, makes a dig in a recent match for the Scots. Williams leads the team in digs and digs per set after earning her second American Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week award of the season.

The NAIA American Midwest Conference office in St. Louis announced this week Lyon College senior libero Madisson Williams was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

It was the fifth time in her career Williams received a Player of the Week award. The Scots (10-8, 2-3) won six out of seven sets in two matches on Saturday in Hannibal, Mo., after losing on Sept. 24 in Russellville at Arkansas Tech (12-7, 5-2 Great American Conference).

Williams was a 2015 honor graduate at Lake Hamilton High School before advancing to Lyon in Batesville. She is the daughter of Jason and Ashley Ballard.

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Submitted photo ACE SERVICE: Lyon senior libero Madisson Williams (1) is second on the team with 27 service aces this season. She is eighth in program history with 142 aces in her career.

"Individually, Madisson has taken on the leadership role I expected to see from her," said Lyon head volleyball coach Ray Green. "As a senior, she has continued to step up her game with each competition. She has done a great job teaching, coaching and mentoring our freshmen players. I'm excited to see where she leads us in the second half of the season."

Williams made 24 digs against Arkansas Tech, 24 in a four-set victory at Hannibal-LaGrange (5-21, 1-3) and 18 digs in a three-set victory against Lincoln College (12-10). She added three aces and five assists in the Scots' victories.

Last week's performances left Williams with a team-leading 303 digs this season heading into a pair of home matches on Tuesday. She leads the team with 4.97 digs per set and ranks second on the team with 27 service aces. She is third in Lyon's record book with 1,871 digs, just 78 shy of second in program history.

Only one other player in school history has ever reached 2,000 career digs. Williams also sits at eighth in Lyon history with 142 service aces.

Williams is third in the AMC in digs per set, fourth in total digs, fifth in aces and seventh in aces per set. She was named to the All-AMC First Team a year ago as Lyon achieved its best season in a decade.

The Scots were 18-16 overall and 8-4 in the AMC. It was the team's best conference record since 2008.

Lyon entered Tuesday with a 10-8 record, including a 2-3 mark in the AMC. Green said it is the program's best start since 2007.

"I can't express how proud I am of the team and it's accomplishments so far this season," Green said. "Everyone is on-board with our goals and how to accomplish them."

The regular season is scheduled to end on Nov. 3. The conference tournament will be held the next week.

Williams is the only player on the team to play in all 61 sets this season.

Sophomore right side hitter Courtney Erby, also of Lake Hamilton, has 26 kills in 23 sets over 13 matches this season. Freshman setter Elizabeth Bairett, of Fountain Lake, is averaging 3.9 assists per set for 54 total in 14 sets over nine matches.

Sports on 10/03/2018

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