By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON - In 2007 all of Presley Roberson’s skills came together on the volleyball court. Like a young power pitcher, the Tigers’ middle hitter always had the fastball but her location wasn’t always there.
This season Roberson was able to add placement to her thunderous spikes, which in turn placed her on the Washington Daily News All-Area team and led to the Tigers’ middle hitter being named the WDN Volleyball Player of the Year.
Roberson credited her improvement to the instruction of Rogers.
On the strength of Roberson’s power and new found accuracy, Williamston was able overmatch its opponents this year as the Tigers amassed a 21-3 record before losing in the third round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs to state runners up Louisberg.
While Williamston featured a well balanced team, Roberson’s big play ability in the middle was a large reason why the Tigers were able to make a prolonged playoff push.
Though she is armed with a killer spike, Roberson was more than a one trick pony. Her development was evident this year as she would set up opponents early with the heat, then midway through the match after the blockers had backed off the net, she would lightly tip the ball over the net in the same manner a tennis player would execute a drop shot.
Rogers said Roberson’s impact on the defensive end of the court also can not be over looked.
While there were many outstanding area volleyball players this year, there weren’t to many that possessed Roberson ability to come through in the clutch. Like a premier starting pitcher that is looked on to end a four game losing streak, Roberson was the one the Tigers looked to when the other team would rattle off four and five point runs.
In a season full of highlights and monster games Roberson said there was not one single moment that stood out above the rest, and that she just had fun playing the game.