Russellville’s Watts to continue volleyball career at MUW

Standing in front of a crowded room Russellville High School head volleyball coach Will White said he had just one regret:

“I have only one regret when it comes to Avery and it’s I only got to coach her one year,” he said.

The Avery that White is referring to is Avery Watts, a standout volleyball senior at Russellville who signed with the Mississippi University for Women Owls at a signing ceremony held at the Russellville Field House Feb. 21.

For Watts, flanked at the table by her mother and father and surrounded by friends, family, teachers, teammates, and coaches, the ceremony represented the fulfillment of one of her longtime aspirations.

“It’s so special,” Watts said. “I’ve been dreaming about this day for a long, long time, and it’s just really exciting for it to finally come true.”

Special. That’s how Watts described her day, but it’s also how White described Watts. The coach, full of praise for the player, said he knew from day one Watts was different.

“I walk in the door, the first person I meet is Avery Watts. From the moment that I met her I knew she was going to be a game-changer for the program, not just from the athletic ability that she has, which is great, but also from a culture standpoint, from a work ethic standpoint, from an academic standpoint,” White said. “I would have loved to coached her for three, four years and seen where we could have went.” 

On the court, the numbers paint the picture of Watts’s ability. An All-Area Team player her senior season, the outside hitter recorded 303 kills, 23 blocks, 119 digs, and had a stellar serving percentage of 93 percent. Offensively, defensively, and in service, Watts was a triple threat for the Golden Tigers. But the stats, anyone can see and appreciate those. What those on the outside may not have seen were the maturity level and leadership traits that, White said, are uncommon in high school athletes.

“We have four coaches on staff and there were times where I would go to Avery and say, ‘hey, what do you think?’” White said. “She was able to tell me how it was going inside the locker room, how it was going out on the court, and things that, as a coach, unless you’re in those moments and in those places, you don’t really know what’s happening. She was able to lead in such a way that I’m truly going to miss.”

The key, Watts said, is keeping an open ear and an even keel.

“I’m a really good listener and I remain calm in stressful situations or heated situations,” she said. “I have the calmness about me so I can listen to problems and negotiate them out.”

White, who has had stints at nearly every level of the game, said he speaks from experience when he said Watts has everything she needs to be successful at MUW.

“She has the mental fortitude to be able to handle the pressure of playing at the next level,” he said. “That’s not easy to come across. Everyone wants to play at the next level until it comes time to actually put things into action. She has that ability.”

Athletic ability: check. Maturity and leadership ability: check. And if impressed by Watts in the former two categories, stick around for her academic record. Those numbers don’t lie either. Watts, “the epitome of a student-athlete” as lauded by interim athletic director Brett Voss, has a 4.0 grade-point average and a 5.0 weighted GPA. She will earn an honors diploma when she walks across the graduation stage and the Russellville National Honor Society president has taken over a half dozen AP courses and multiple dual-enrollment courses available to her. All of these accomplishments are in addition to the numerous awards she’s won and the myriad of school clubs she’s participating in.

It must be asked how a two-sport athlete like Watts (she played basketball, too) finds the time.

“Time management is a skill that I had to learn very early in high school,” Watts said. “I have a calendar in my room with every test, homework due date, ball game, and club meeting. I also have to set reminders to make sure I am where I need to be on time. Organization is definitely key when keeping up with all of my extracurricular activities.”

It should come as no surprise then that Watts already has a plan in place for her future. After serving as a volunteer student athletic trainer and taking numerous health occupation courses while at Russellville, Watts intends to major in chemistry pre-med at MUW and then further her education from there.

“After completing my degree in chemistry, I plan to either go to medical school or pursue a degree as a physician assistant,” she said.

MUW, which competes at the NCAA Division III level, is located in Columbus, Mississippi, and just a couple hours drive away from Russellville. Watts said the proximity from her hometown and the “home feel” she got at MUW were reasons she chose the Owls. And what does Watts expect of herself when she gets there? More of what got her there in the first place will do nicely, thanks.

“I want to be in the classroom, I want to keep my academics up still,” she said. “I want to be a leader on the court, like I was here, I want to be a leader there, too.”