Amara Williams wanted a cultural change. She found it at rival Coppin State Volleyball. – Baltimore Sun

Amara Williams is well known within the Coppin State volleyball program for the fiery spirit she brings to the game. The 6-foot middle blocker and outside hitter had that edge mostly hidden, but he admitted that he fell out on occasion.

“I’m going to say there are certain games that we talk about on the net,” she said. “I never start, but I’m the type to finish.”

For years, Williams may have channeled that energy into her Eagles teammates, as from 2018 to 2022 she played for Mideastern Athletic Conference rival North Carolina Central. Now in her fifth year, Williams is using her credentials to help her new team beat foes like her previous team.

This season, Williams is second in Coppin State in kills (223) (15-8 overall, 6-1 in MEAC), third in blocks (51) and fourth in digs (162). Yes, tied for second with Aces (27). In her 5-set comeback win over Delaware State on Sunday, she recorded a match-high 16 kills, 3 blocks and 1 ace to propel the Eagles to first place in the league.

Coppin State volleyball player Amara Williams, who already has bragging rights against her former team, will face North Carolina Central for the first time on Sunday as a visitor. (Coppin State University)

Senior libero Ashley Roman said he prefers to be on the same side of the net as Williams.

“We played against her every year, so we knew how she played,” Roman said. “Former Coach [Tim Walsh] She told me that she was going to join Coppin. She is a great player, so I was very excited.

Williams has already earned bragging rights against his former team. She had eight kills, 11 digs and a career-high six aces in the Eagles’ five-set victory over North Carolina Central on her September 25th. as an opponent.

“To this day, people are like, ‘How could you leave here? You’ve been here so long,'” she said. “So I think it’s going to be emotional. I’m kind of curious how the crowd will react. Will they be like ‘Oh hey’ or will they be like ‘traitor’?”

Williams enjoyed enviable success in North Carolina Central. She was her two-time MEAC First Team winner and at the end of last season of the program she was the all-time leader in batting average during the NCAA Division I era. was a member.

But at the end of the season, Williams said he knew his time at North Carolina Central was over.

“A lot has happened at Central, but I’m just starting to feel like the program isn’t the right environment for me,” she said, declining to delve into details. I needed a fresh start where I could play the game at the level I felt.”

After entering the transfer portal in December, Amara Williams said UMBC, East Michigan and Jacksonville had expressed interest. has decided to join its former MEAC rival. (Timothy Rice)

Williams said UMBC, East Michigan and Jacksonville had expressed interest after he entered the transfer portal in December.

“When I saw Amara enter the portal, I thought, ‘I’m going after her,'” he recalls. “My assistant said, ‘Yeah. Good luck. She’s going to get pulled over.’ [by another school]’ I emailed her, set up the phone, and spoke to her. She said, “You’re the only school I go to within MEAC.” I was like, let’s go. ”

Prior to 2020, Williams would have had to wait two years before being able to play for the Eagles. But after the coronavirus pandemic, the conference dropped the two-year penalty.

Still, Williams had some reservations about joining her former rival.

“I was able to play Coppin State for a long time and I could feel his energy all over the court,” she said. He made it very difficult for me to score all the points I wanted. I actually believed in the vision he gave when we talked about our capabilities.

Williams was immediately welcomed by Walsh and the players. Roman described Williams as her natural leader.

“If something is going wrong in a practice or a game, she’ll definitely step in and call people out and say, ‘This isn’t us, we need to do better.’ I think it was necessary for

Williams said the Eagles culture was a pleasant surprise.

“It’s great because it fits my personality so well,” she said. I have.”

After graduating from North Carolina Central in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus on management, Williams is studying for a Master’s degree in esports management. She has another year of eligibility due to the 2018 season in which she missed rehab for a torn ACL and is set to return to the Eagles next fall.

Williams considers himself lucky to have found another home in Coppin State.

“Nothing can replace the first home,” she said. “At Central, I had a lot of experience and connected with a lot of people. It has definitely become a second home for me, and I feel that this is where I continue to grow.”

Coppin State @ North Carolina Central

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