Wood's Heishman to play volleyball for Tribe

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI | The Winchester Star

James Wood senior Taylor Heishman is definitely glad she took her time in deciding where she wanted to play volleyball in college next year.

The 6-foot-1 Heishman verbally committed to play at NCAA Division I William & Mary College on Sunday. Heishman — who will play middle blocker for the Tribe — will be a preferred walk-on who will have the opportunity to earn scholarship money her last two years.

Heishman had offers to play from five schools when she made her decision on Sunday.

NCAA Division I Buffalo had brought Heishman in for two visits, the last one in October. The Bison offered Heishman a scholarship, but Heishman wanted to keep looking.

A month ago, William & Mary wasn’t one of the schools interested in Heishman. The Tribe’s two assistant coaches didn’t even know who she was when they approached the coach of Heishman’s Dulles Volleyball travel team, Seng Chiu, at a tournament in Richmond.

“They asked [Chiu] where I was committed,” said Heishman, who played well in Dulles Volleyball’s win over a team coached by Tribe assistant Ryan Adams at that tournament. “They just assumed I had already committed.”

The Tribe — who finished 8-21 under first-year head coach Melissa Ferris in the fall — contacted Heishman shortly after that tournament.

Heishman was invited to Williamsburg this past weekend to spend time with the team and tour the campus. Heishman was offered a spot on the team on Saturday night, and after talking it over with her parents she informed William & Mary she would play for them on Sunday.

“I knew that’s where I wanted to go when I was down there on Friday,” said Heishman, a first team All-Conference 21 West and second team All-4A West Region selection this season. “Everybody that was there on campus was really friendly, whether they were on the volleyball team or not.

“They were all so excited to have a [potential] future Tribe on campus. The coaches were great. All the facilities are amazing. And I love the academics at the school. I definitely fell in love with it.”

Heishman said she thinks she’ll study kinesiology at William & Mary, which went 2-14 in conference play last year.

Heishman said other schools that wanted her to play for them were NCAA Division I Kent State and Division III schools Christopher Newport University and Mary Washington.

Heishman said she plans on having a signing ceremony in the next few months, but she’s unsure of the date yet.

Heishman led James Wood with 216 kills and 61 blocks this season. She helped the Colonels to a 22-4 record and the conference tournament title.

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