Defying theOdds She was Harding's No. [ seeded lennis player for four years. She held the record for singles victories at the No. ! position, and her doubles win– ning percentage ranked fifth at Harding. All the while, sh e maintained a 3.86 grade point average. But according to doctOl'S 23 years ago, Hard– ing graduate Al icia \Villiams wasn't even supposed to live past birth. Due to complications and a possible miscarriage, doctors encouraged Annette Williams to abort her chi ld in the fourth month of pregnan cy. Annette refused to even consid er it. " Ijust knew 1wanted that chi ld ," Annette said. "My conscience wouldn't let me give up when there was a chan ce for me to give life to my child." After a bedridden 10 mon ths and two weeks, Annette flnally went into la– bor-without a milligram of pain medication. 12 hours and four doctors later, she cuddled and cooed at the baby doctors later called a miracle. "Almost everyone told me, ' It 's all right . you don't have to have this baby,'" An– nette said. "But I did the right thing. She really is a miracle." Twenty- three years late r , Alicia Williams, the miracle baby, displayed her mom's willpower as she h elped lead the Lady Bisons to their 16th consecmive win– ning season of 18-9. ''I'm a very determined player , and I probably got that from my mom , " Alicia sa id. ") try to channel that detel"mination in a positive way using the gi fts God gave m" Alicia received the Gulf South Conference Top Ten award for two years straight, earned ESPN the Magazine academic all - district awal'd and received the 2009 Ber– ryhill Award her senior year at Harding. She was chosen to serve as chairwoman of the Student Athlete Association Committee for four year s. . But according to friends, she was much too humble to mention any of th at. "Winning awards was not n ear as important to me as bui lding the team," Alicia said. "On a team, the number o n e player is no mO I'e important than the number six player or the teammates cheering from the stands. J focused on building rela – tionships and en couraging my teammates. We are a team b efore and afte r a win o r a loss." Teammates said Alicia was a great encourager, friend. tennis player and ex– ample. "Alicia has never lost a match to a player she shouldn' t lose to. Not once , in four years. That's remarkabl e," coach David Elliott sa id. "And she 's shown an attitude lOward he r teammates th at no o n e could disapprove of." Alic ia finished h e r Hardi ng ten nis career with a total Singles record o f 70 -17 and total doubles record of 69-25, cementing an impressive contribution to th e women's tennis program. Although she was dedicated to the sport she loved, Alicia kept h e r p r iorities in order. "I've always believed in student before athlete," Alicia sa id. "I put my studies first and it made my game much more relaxed and fun Janet Orgain Row 1: K. Saegert, G. Cielo. A. Bryant, E. Roller, E. Sansom, l. Brumfield. Row 2: K. Swindle, J. Orgain, H. Gara, K. Golik, A. Roller, K. Bogle. Row 3: A. Wiliams, l. Binford, l. Pardo, R. Roberts. Junior Adrienne Bryant Craig Rainbolt Sophomore Gina Cielo Craig Rainbolt Sophomore Haniel Gora Craig Rainbolt Junior Karye Saegert Craig Rainbolt women 's tennis267
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