Youth is served

Tuesday, February 23, 1999

Youth is served

FEATURE: As the youngest starter,

sophomore Mark Williams’ efforts on the team and

in improving his skills

have not gone unnoticed

By Nick Taylor

Daily Bruin Contributor

In a team of superstars, an often overlooked facet on the
defending champion UCLA men’s volleyball squad is sophomore Mark
Williams.

The Bruins’ intimidating starting lineup includes future
Olympians Adam Naeve and Brandon Taliaferro, two-sport star Danny
Farmer and offensive force Evan Thatcher.

Yet Williams, the teams’ youngest starter, is just as important
to the team’s success as they are. The Bruins know they can rely on
Williams just as they do other starters.

"He grew up quick," Farmer said. "In the clutch, he stepped
up."

On offense, the Bruins usually turn to Naeve, Farmer and
Thatcher before him.

"I’m not the first guy they go to," Williams explained. "But if
I’m doing well, I might be the first option."

Williams, however, continues to come through when they turn to
him. In limited attempts, Williams has put up impressive numbers
(3.00 kills per game, .404 hitting percentage) reflective of a
team’s first or second option.

Yet, he remains an alternate option.

Anyone might think that Williams is disappointed with his
attempts on offense. Since he is the youngest starter, it is common
for him to want to prove himself to his fellow teammates.

Think again. First, he already has convinced his teammates he
belongs.

"He fit in well last year," Thatcher explained. "People really
respected him.

And he has continued to earn their respect by ignoring
individual goals and filling the team’s needs. For now, he knows
the team needs him to start the offense. "Passing and digging is my
primary role," Williams said.

Yet, Williams is beginning to show that he merits being the No.
1 or No. 2 option on offense.

Not only does he lead the team in digs at 2.25 per game, he also
leads the Bruins in service aces with 19.

Williams was able to make his mark on the team from his
experience playing two-on-two beach volleyball. In beach
volleyball, a player has to touch every ball and play every
position. Williams was forced to develop all of the different
skills that a volleyball player uses, and he has translated that
experience into college volleyball.

"(Beach volleyball is) a good experience," he said." It helped
with my jump serve and passing."

Beach volleyball helped Williams make up for his youth on the
court. His experience on the sand has helped him most with the
intangibles of hard-court volleyball.

Williams has great anticipation, or "court sense," as assistant
coach John Speraw described it, and really knows where the ball
will go.

His digging helps the team night in and night out, and his ball
control shows in his passing. And while he continues to learn the
offense, he is very good at creating shots, especially when he
scrambles.

Williams consistently fills his role, contributes and
complements the team. His improvement this year has shown that he
deserves to be on the court with the starters.

Williams proves daily that UCLA is a much better team with him
in the lineup. Without Williams, UCLA would lose a part of the team
that box scores cannot measure. With Williams, UCLA can perform to
its peak potential.

UCLA relies on Williams’ passing on offense. He needs to receive
serves and make good passes to setter Taliaferro. That way,
Taliaferro can set the ball to each of the other players on the
floor. If Williams makes a bad pass, Taliaferro’s options on
offense are limited, which restricts the offense.

Williams and fellow outside hitter Robins, however, have been
passing exceptionally all year long.

"Our passing is the best that it has been in years," coach Al
Scates said.

As a result, the Bruin offense has flourished, and Williams has
reaped some of its benefits. While UCLA doesn’t ask Williams to be
the No. 1 hitter, he does get some sets in the framework of the
offense.

"We don’t go to Williams a lot," Scates said. "We try (instead)
to keep everyone involved."

The Bruins usually will concentrate on a team’s weakness and
attack with the appropriate players. For example, in the Loyola
Marymount match, the Bruins focused on attacking the middle.

Instead of relying on kills to make his mark, Williams shows his
maturity by working on other skills, especially serving and
blocking.

"His serve has really come alive," Scates said. "His left-hand
serve is causing people a lot of problems."

To improve his jump serve, Williams has put in plenty of time
weightlifting and practicing. During practice, UCLA runs organized
scrimmage where each player gets a lot of attempts, so Williams’
serve can get better.

Weightlifting, though, is what Williams thinks has helped him
most.

"Last year, I was weaker (than I am now), but I’ve been getting
stronger and hitting the ball harder." said Williams.

Another place that Williams has really shown his improvement is
with his blocking.

"We’re working on his blocking," Scates said. "He’s turning into
a real good solo blocker."

Williams tries to improve his hand movements when he blocks;
specifically, he does not want to move them much. If he moves both
hands, that opens up the cross-court shot for hitters. While
Williams still thinks he needs to improve, Speraw gives him credit
for the strides he has made.

"His blocking is better," Speraw said. "It’s the part of his
game that has improved the most."

Last year, Williams did not start, but he pushed Ben Moselle and
had considerable playing time. Instead of improving incrementally,
though, he would improve in spurts, sometimes taking two steps
backward before taking three steps forward.

"Last year, I’d adjust," Williams said, "but then I’d
regress."

By the end of the year, however, Williams had stopped that
pattern. He was comfortable playing for the team, and had overcome
his youth. An example is his approach on offense. Normally, it
meant trying to get the blockers to take away the cross-court, so
he could use his favorite shot, the down-the-line. This year he
wants to improve by hitting the ball harder. Much harder.

"Hitting hard, that’s my favorite thing," Williams said.

By hitting harder, it makes the shot more difficult for the
defender to handle. The harder he hits with accuracy, the more
potent he will become. His coaches feel that hitting is the missing
part of his game, despite how good he is now.

"The final piece of the puzzle is offense," Speraw said. "He
needs to hit the ball harder. Once he does that, he’ll be a great
player."

While he works to improve his game, Williams is more concerned
with the team returning as champions.

"I think we should win again," Williams said. "We have the
players. While other teams peak early, we progressively get
better."

All of his coaches think that Williams will get better as well.
Is All-American status a possibility in his future?

"I’d like it to be," he said. "It would be cool."

For now, though, Williams is needed to fit that complementary
role. When UCLA needs Williams to be the superstar, his ability and
accolades will soar. "He’s still learning shots," Scates said, "but
he can and will get a lot better."

This wouldn’t necessarily be good for the opposition, but once
Williams gains more experience on the college level, he will become
the player no one can overlook.GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin Senior
Staff

Outside hitter Mark Williams has been an unsung hero on the
Bruin volleyball team this year.

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