ALBANY - Mattea Williams has spent her senior year at West Albany High being someone coaches, teammates and other peers have counted on and turned to for help.

Whether it's on the volleyball or basketball courts, on the track or in her church's youth ministry, Williams is a leader.

This spring, girls track coach Craig Swanson has needed athletes to be flexible and try new events in order to help fill events where the team is short of entrants.

Williams has been one of those to step forward.

"She's been good at saying, whatever you need," Swanson said.

In volleyball, Williams led the Bulldogs as the setter.

During the basketball season, with the team losing several players to graduation, Williams stepped up at her point guard position to provide a needed scoring punch. It turned out to be a key factor in helping the Bulldogs reach the state tournament and a second straight 20-win season.

"She's just a great leader by example," said Swanson, also West Albany's girls basketball coach. "We needed something extra out of her game. When she got there, we just went to a whole new level."

Williams is a hard worker, in addition to being a leader.

"She's a pleaser. By nature she's going to do whatever she can possibly do to please the coach, please the team," Swanson said.

Swanson was quick to add that Williams is "one of the most enjoyable players I've ever coached" and a kind-hearted person willing to help others.

The coach said Williams will be hard to replace in basketball because she's feisty, strong and deceivingly athletic for a smaller player at 5-foot-6.

Williams' transition from basketball to the track and field season has been a slow one, at least by her standards.

West Albany won a state basketball playoff game at Ashland that put the Bulldogs in the 5A state tournament and extended the team's season by a week.

Williams missed the Bulldogs' first few meets due to sore leg muscles.

Still, her time in her first 100-meter high hurdle race, in an April 4 dual meet against Silverton, put her among the top 10 in 5A. She's also one of the Mid-Willamette Conference's leaders in the 300 low hurdles.

"I feel a little bit behind," Williams said. "I'm working really hard to get where I want to be."

Williams' athletic - and academic - accomplishments have opened doors and provided opportunities beyond high school.

She said she has spent a lot of time recently considering colleges for this coming fall.

On the short list of possibilities is a dual enrollment at Oregon State and Linn-Benton Community College; Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario; and George Fox University in Newberg.

It's made for a stressful spring, with schoolwork to get done and graduation less than two months away.

A strong performance in next month's Mid-Willamette district meet will allow Williams an opportunity to cap her high school athletic experience with her second trip to the state meet at Hayward Field in Eugene.

She made state as a sophomore in the 100 hurdles, and she says that's provided some motivation to get back.

Her best chance will likely come in that event, though she could also make state in the 300 hurdles. (The top two in each event and those reaching qualifying standards advance.)

"I don't really care which one," said Williams, just set on getting back to Eugene.

It would be one last highlight for Williams, who has made her senior year one to remember.

"My athletic career has been so much more than I hoped it would be," she said.

School/Grade: West Albany/senior

Sport: Track, basketball and volleyball

Age: 17

Parents: Randy and Lauri Williams

Siblings: Sisters Jamie, Erin and Jessie; brother Shad

Last movie: 'Meet the Robinsons'

Favorite dessert: Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream

Favorite food: Fettucini Alfredo

What's on your I-pod/In your CD player: Christian, country and oldies

Favorite TV show: Survivor

Favorite actor: James Franco

Favorite actress: Sandra Bullock

Historical figure you would like to eat dinner with: C.S. Lewis

Dine out, take out or home cooking: Home cooking

Favorite place to play (other than home): Crescent Valley

Favorite sports moment: Beating Ashland this year in the basketball state playoffs in order get to the Chiles Center.