We've spent months talking about why the REN Athletics Division III Women’s College Volleyball Scholarship matters—why Division III athletes deserve recognition, why financial barriers shouldn't stop talented players from pursuing their dreams, why investing in these student-athletes means investing in volleyball's future.
Today, we get to introduce you to two incredible young women who prove exactly why this scholarship exists.
Ariana Williams from Tomball, Texas, and Addison Werner from Swansea, Illinois, are heading to Rhodes College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges respectively. They're both carrying perfect 4.0 GPAs, impressive volleyball resumes, and dreams of becoming a doctor and an architect. Reading their applications reminded us why we love this sport so much.
These aren't just great volleyball players. They're the kind of people who create clothing closets for disadvantaged students, serve as valedictorians while being team captains, and somehow balance it all without breaking a sweat (well, except on the court). They're exactly the type of student-athletes who make DIII volleyball special—and exactly the reason we created this scholarship.
Ariana Williams: The Libero Who Leads
Let's start with some of her accomplishments because they're impressive: top 10 in Florida Class 5A for digs, multiple academic awards, leadership recognition from her school and the volleyball community. Ariana played with TAV Houston and is taking her talents to Rhodes College, where Coach Kiersten Still is getting one heck of a defensive specialist.
But here's what really caught our attention during the selection process.
While maintaining that 4.0 GPA and competing at the club level, Ariana started the Tomball High School Clothing Closet. She saw students at a local high school struggling without access to clean clothes, school supplies, and basic hygiene items. So she didn't just feel bad about it—she built something to fix it. The closet gives these students private, free access to necessities that most of us take for granted.
That's the kind of initiative you can't teach. That's someone who sees a problem and solves it, who understands that having a platform as an athlete means using it to lift others up.
When we asked Ariana what the scholarship means to her, this is what she said: "This scholarship will help me pursue my collegiate volleyball career and academic passions without the financial stresses and anxieties of figuring out how my family and I will be able to pay for my college education."
Just the real truth that paying for college is stressful, and this helps relieve some of the additional stress of entering a new stage of life. We respect that honesty, and we're proud to ease some of that burden so she can focus on becoming the person, player, and doctor she's working toward.
Why Ariana Represents What We're Building
Rhodes College is getting more than a talented libero. They're getting someone who's already proven she can handle pressure, lead by example, and maintain excellence in multiple demanding environments simultaneously. Pre-med track while playing DIII volleyball? That's no joke. But if anyone can handle it, it's someone who's already been doing exactly that throughout high school.
Her high school coaches clearly saw something special—you don't win the TMHS Volleyball Leadership Award by accident. Her club coaches at TAV Houston developed her into a player college programs wanted. And now she's headed to a competitive DIII program where she'll continue growing as both an athlete and a future healthcare professional.
Addison Werner: Valedictorian, Captain, Architect-in-Training
Addison's high school resume reads like someone who doesn't understand the concept of "picking just one thing." Valedictorian at Belleville East Township High School. Student council president. Team captain. Six-rotation player with High Performance STL. Oh, and that perfect 4.0 GPA.
Being a six-rotation player means you're trusted to excel in every aspect of volleyball—passing, setting, hitting, serving, blocking, defending. Add team captain responsibilities to that, and you're basically running the show on the court. Now imagine doing that while also running student council and maintaining the GPA necessary to be valedictorian.
Coach Derryk Williams at Hobart and William Smith Colleges is getting a player who can contribute immediately in multiple ways, and more importantly, someone who makes everyone around her better. That's what captains do, and Addison's been doing it while juggling more responsibilities than most adults handle.
The Architecture Connection
We love that Addison's pursuing architecture. It's not exactly the easiest major to pair with collegiate athletics—architecture programs are notoriously demanding, with long studio hours and intensive project work. But that's kind of the point of DIII volleyball, right? These athletes aren't choosing the easy path. They're choosing the path that lets them be complete people, not just athletes.
When Addison told us "This scholarship gives me the opportunity to pursue my dreams on the court and in the classroom," it captured something simple but powerful. Dreams shouldn't be either/or. You shouldn't have to choose between volleyball and architecture, between being an athlete and being a scholar.
The whole point of this scholarship is removing that false choice for students who've proven they can excel at both.
Why We Chose Them (And Why It Was Hard)
Choosing just two recipients from the applications we received was extremely difficult. We had students with incredible stories, impressive achievements, and big dreams. Reading through them was honestly inspiring and made us wish we could support way more than two students.
But Ariana and Addison stood out for a specific reason—they embody what DIII volleyball is really about.
They're not heading to Division I programs with full rides and national TV exposure. They're choosing schools that fit their academic goals, programs that value them as complete people, and paths that will prepare them for careers that have nothing to do with professional volleyball. And they're doing it while maintaining the work ethic, discipline, and commitment that makes them exceptional athletes.
That's the whole point. That's why DIII matters. And that's why we created this scholarship.
What Their Applications Taught Us
Going through this first round of applications showed us something important: there are so many talented volleyball players out there who are choosing education over easier athletic paths, community impact over personal glory, and long-term growth over short-term recognition.
Every application we read featured impressive academics, leadership in multiple areas, and career aspirations that will take these athletes far beyond the volleyball court. Future teachers, engineers, nurses, business leaders—all choosing DIII volleyball as part of their journey.
That depth of talent and ambition in the DIII volleyball community validated everything we believed about why this scholarship needed to exist. These athletes deserve recognition and support, even if they're not the ones getting the headlines and highlight reels.
What Happens Next
Ariana and Addison are about to start their freshman seasons. New teammates, new coaches, new academic challenges, and the reality of balancing college-level volleyball with rigorous majors. It's going to be demanding, exciting, sometimes overwhelming, and exactly what they signed up for.
We'll be following their journeys, staying connected, and cheering them on as they navigate their first year of collegiate volleyball and college life. Their experiences will help shape how we approach future scholarship cycles and how we can better support the next group of recipients.
A Thank You to Everyone Who Applied
To everyone who took the time to apply for the REN Athletics Division III Women’s College Volleyball Scholarship—thank you. Seriously. Your applications inspired us, showed us the caliber of athletes choosing DIII volleyball, and reinforced why this program matters.
We could only choose two recipients this year, but every single applicant represented exactly what's right about volleyball. You're balancing sports with academics, leadership with teamwork, and personal ambition with community service. That's not easy, and it deserves recognition even if you didn't receive this particular scholarship.
Keep doing what you're doing. Keep pushing yourself in the classroom and on the court. Keep making your communities better. The volleyball world needs more people like you.
Why This Matters to REN Athletics
We could talk about brand values and mission statements, but here's the simple truth: we started REN Athletics because we love volleyball and we're tired of seeing it treated like a secondary sport.
From partnering with Major League Volleyball to creating training equipment designed specifically for volleyball to now supporting DIII student-athletes through this scholarship—everything we do comes back to one belief: volleyball deserves more.
More recognition. More investment. More support at every level.
Ariana and Addison represent volleyball's future. Not because they're going to play professionally or become famous athletes, but because they're going to be doctors and architects and community members who carry volleyball's lessons into everything they do. They'll coach youth players, support local programs, and maybe someday sponsor their own scholarships for the next generation.
That's how you grow a sport. That's how you build something lasting.
Congratulations, Ariana and Addison
To our scholarship winners—congratulations. We're incredibly proud to support your journeys and excited to watch what you accomplish over the next four years and beyond.
Rhodes College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges are getting two exceptional student-athletes who will make their programs better from day one. Your teammates are getting leaders who know how to balance multiple priorities. Your professors are getting students who understand hard work. And volleyball is getting two more ambassadors who'll represent the sport with class, dedication, and excellence.
Go make us proud. (We know you will.)
And to everyone else reading this—help us celebrate these two amazing young women. Follow their college programs, support DIII volleyball, and spread the word that these athletes deserve recognition for choosing the harder path.