NO MORE VARSITY BLUES FOR HER.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Palmdale High volleyball standout Quinn Williams was granted a hardship waiver for unspecified personal reasons by the Southern Section office, clearing the way for one of the area's most dynamic players to join the varsity.

Williams is a transfer from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove and the daughter of longtime Palmdale football coach Jeff Williams. She practiced with the varsity for the first time Monday morning.

The 6-foot-2 Williams had been playing on the junior varsity after the section office originally denied her eligibility request. The section office announced its ruling late Friday.

She will be Palmdale's starting middle blocker when it opens the second round of league Thursday against Littlerock, Palmdale coach Colleen Nua said.

``She's very excited,'' Jeff Williams said. ``I told her to go out and have a sundae to celebrate.''

Nua said the addition of Williams is pivotal to a team that looks to turn around its season.

Palmdale (4-7, 2-5) still has a chance of making the playoffs.

``I've been watching her on JV team and I'm just as pleased as can be that she'll be joining us,'' Nua said.

Williams fills a need at middle blocker, where the Falcons have had to use Shanna Wright, a 5-9 junior. Nua said Wright will move to her natural outside hitter position.

``What we've been lacking is a girl who can put the ball away for the kill and with Quinn on the team now we have that,'' Nua said.

Williams made the varsity her freshman year at Monterey Trail and had no true peers playing junior varsity-level volleyball for the first time in her career.

``I'm definitely relieved,'' Jeff Williams said. `` I think it was the appropriate decision. It's good for all parties concerned.''