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National Signing Day: Hillsboro trio raised the standard of Burros’ volleyball program





Hillsboro volleyball players, from left, Mia Reese, Tazia Williamson and Summer Snead pose following a signing day ceremony. Reese and Snead signed with UAB volleyball, while Williamson signed with Gardner-Webb women's basketball. Tyler Palmateer / Main Street Nashville

Hillsboro volleyball players, from left, Mia Reese, Tazia Williamson and Summer Snead pose following a signing day ceremony. Reese and Snead signed with UAB volleyball, while Williamson signed with Gardner-Webb women’s basketball. Tyler Palmateer / Main Street Nashville

They’re not all going to stick with volleyball.

But at Hillsboro, where they’re dubbed The Big Three, that is the sport they helped rejuvenate within the school walls.

Tazia Williamson, who signed to play basketball with Gardner-Webb on the opening day of the signing period Wednesday, said she will never forget how she and volleyball stars Summer Snead and Mia Rease — who both signed to play volleyball at UAB — helped the program break through to the state tournament for the first time since 1982.

Snead had more perspective on what the team accomplished with a few weeks to reflect.

“It means literally the world,” she said. “No one expected a Metro team to get to state and we got fourth.”

Reese, Snead and Williamson aren’t just teammates on the court.

“We do everything together. We’re best friends,” Reese said. “I don’t know where I’d be right now, even in school, if I didn’t have them.”

Reese finished with a team-high 251 kills and 21 blocks this past season. Snead recorded 198 kills and 51 blocks. They were a force together at the net.

Williamson rejoined the volleyball team to help it get over the state tournament hump.

“We needed her to come back,” Reese said. “She brings a different energy because in basketball they’re energized, they’re ready to go, they’re talking. They have that in volleyball, but I felt we didn’t have anyone with that energy. When she came back she brought a different vibe.”

Williamson has another chance to break a Hillsboro drought. The Burros came one game short of the girls basketball state tournament last season, losing to Beech 39-31 in a Class 4A sectional game. Their previous state appearance came during the program’s run to its only state championship back in 2009.

She was emotional for a reason Wednesday. Her AAU coach told a story about how earlier in her career she struggled just to catch interior passes.

Last season, Williamson averaged 9.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and shot 57% from the field.

She doesn’t take that improvement lightly. 

“I’m very proud of myself,” she said. “That’s why I was crying so much. I put in a lot of work. I told myself I wanted to be here (signing) but there were a lot of times that I thought I couldn’t. Now I’m here and I’m so proud.”

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