James Wood's Heishman, Hillyard sign to play college volleyball

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI | The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — The hard work put forth by Taylor Heishman and Megan Hillyard helped them experience and achieve things most people never get to do in high school.

On Friday, the James Wood seniors experienced another moment in rarefied territory by signing national letters of intent to play volleyball in college in front of a crowd of 30 family members, friends, coaches, teammates and faculty at the school’s library.

Heishman — a 6-foot-1 middle blocker — will be a preferred walk-on at NCAA Division I William & Mary, where she will have the opportunity to earn scholarship money in her final two years. Hillyard — a setter — will play for NCAA Division III Shenandoah University.

“I’ve always wanted to play at a high level of volleyball ever since my freshman year when I first starting playing [on a consistent basis],” said Heishman, who briefly played in seventh grade but quit to focus on basketball. “Over the last four years, my family and I have worked really hard [to make me a better player].

“This is such a great accomplishment for myself, getting to go to this level and play volleyball.”

Heishman and Hillyard certainly helped James Wood play at a high level during their careers.

The Colonels went 90-22 with three state tournament appearances in their careers, including a state final appearance in 2014. And they were the most decorated players in 2016 for a Colonels team that rebounded to go 22-4, win the Conference 21 West tournament championship and advance to the Group 4A state semifinals one year after a relative down year for James Wood at 14-7.

Heishman led the Colonels with 216 kills and 61 blocks and was named to the 4A West Region second team and Conference 21 West first team. Hillyard led the area with 728 assists and was selected to the Group 4A all-state second team in addition to the region and conference first teams.

Heishman verbally committed to the Tribe in January, about a month after two of their assistant coaches became interested in her while watching her play with her Dulles Volleyball club at a tournament in Richmond.

Head coach Melissa Ferris actually brought on two new assistant coaches two weeks ago in Fran Bolletino — a former volunteer assistant coach at the University of Maryland — and Shannon Thompson. Thompson, who spent the previous two years at UMass-Boston — the school that she played for — is in charge of coaching the middle blockers.

“We already have a great connection,” said Heishman of Thompson, whom she has spoken to over the phone.

The 2017 season will be Ferris’ second coaching William & Mary. Formerly an associate head coach at Rice, Ferris directed the Williamsburg school to an 8-21 overall record and a 2-14 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play last year.

“Coach Ferris seems very knowledgeable about the game,” Heishman said. “She knows what she’s talking about and she gets to know the players on a level that advances them on the court as well.”

Heishman said she’s looking forward to getting to know her fellow recruits better over the summer. This year’s class includes two players from Texas in Lauren Mouissaid and Kate Dedrick and one from Illinois in Julia Brown.

“We talk all the time in a group message,” Heishman said. “We’re all making a trip [to William & Mary] over the summer so everyone can get to know each other better, but they just seem like such fun-loving girls and I can’t wait to be a part of the Tribe with them the next four years.”

Heishman said she will major in kinesiology at William & Mary.

Hillyard will major in health care management at Shenandoah, and that area of study is the main reason why she’s going to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference school.

“I was focusing on what I wanted to do with my education, and if volleyball was an opportunity at the school, then I was obviously willing to play,” said Hillyard, a well-rounded player who also had 38 aces, 32 kills and 14 blocks this season. “It happened that Shenandoah was my No. 1 choice, and they also offered me a spot on the team.

“I like how [SU] is a small campus, and the [student-to-teacher] ratio is really small. I learn better when the teacher knows who I am. And it’s local, and I want to stay close to home.”

The Hornets head coach is Jaime Terenzi, who has posted a 110-104 record in seven seasons, including a 13-16 overall and 4-7 ODAC mark in 2016 following two straight winning seasons. Terenzi’s daughter Ryenne was a sophomore on James Wood’s JV team this year.

“I’ve known [Jaime Terenzi] for two years now, and she and her family are so nice,” Hillyard said. “She’s the first head coach I’ve had that hadn’t already been my sister [Ashley’s] coach, so that will be an adjustment. I’m nervous, but excited.”

Hillyard said she was glad she got to share Friday’s signing with Heishman.

“We started high school together, we went to state finals together,” Hillyard said. “It’s a nice close to James Wood volleyball to sign with someone I’ve played every single game with the last four years. I got to do it with a sister I’ve had the last four years.”

“Megan was one of the first friends I made on the team when I started playing,” Heishman said. “Getting to finish high school and officially start our college careers together is very special to me.”

Hillyard’s father, James Wood head coach P.W. Hillyard, said Friday was definitely a proud day for him.

“Obviously Megan’s my daughter, but Taylor’s like an extended family member,” said Hillyard, whose first year as a coach came in 2016. “I can’t tell you enough how much they led our team this past year.

“They were always solid for us. We could always count on them to make plays when the play was needed. They gave great leadership to the team. They’re the types of people you want your players to emulate because of their work ethic and their desire to win.”

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1