Whitney Williams
Maybe it’s doubles partner Erin Walker.
The Abilene Christian University teammates were paired for the first time this fall and it resulted in another title.
Williams and Walker went 3-0 and won the top flight women’s doubles draw for the second straight year after beating a Grand Canyon duo 7-5 in the championship match.
“I was really excited to get back with her, specifically for this tournament,” Williams told me. “It was awesome.”
Williams, of South High fame, is a sophomore at Abilene Christian, a NCAA D1 school in Texas. Walker is a junior.
They have won 14 of 21 matches together since last season. However, their latest victory was perhaps the most memorable given how the women had to rally from a 5-3 deficit.
“I think we wanted it more,” Williams said. “But I don’t think we were focused on winning as much as we were with just sticking with the game plan.”
Williams plays singles and doubles for Abilene Christian but she’s had more success in doubles with four career titles. She won at Oklahoma and Air Force with different partners.
She is attracted to the teamwork, increased net play and aggressive strategy that doubles provides.
“It’s more fun because you have that person next to you, lifting you up when you make a bad decision or make a really good play,” Williams said. “I’m more comfortable with doubles.”