Julia Liang, Clements
"I think definitely just improving my defense so I could play at the varsity level," Liang said of the difference. "Anticipating
the ball better and reacting faster, throwing my body on the floor for balls. Not being as hesitant.
"As far as setting, I could've played varsity as a freshman. But in other aspects of the game, I was lacking. Becoming a more mature player and more aware in certain situations definitely helped me grow."
Liang was an honorable mention all-district selection last year. She led the team in assists (290) and aces (14) and added 79 digs and 16 kills.
This season, Liang leads the team in assists (741) with 33 kills, 36 aces and 199 digs.
"I've improved on a lot of aspects of my game," she said. "Now it's about using them and implementing them to help my team."
Liang credits her success to her teammates, who voted her as team MVP last season. After all, she said, a good setter is only as good as the hitters around her.
Clements has a nice mix of veterans in its attack in seniors Liang, outside hitter Kaylyn Taylor, middle Grace Cervenka
and middle/outside Elizabeth Onyekwere, and promising young talent in junior middle Kaylin Daniels and junior outside hitter Samantha Spitznagel.
"With these seniors, I've been with them for three years. Time is key," Liang said. "And there's a lot of new hitters that have improved a lot and making them a major part of our offense is something I really look forward to."
Liang is as comfortable as she has ever been on the court. She is confident in herself and trusts her ability. The work she's put in shows in her status as a program leader.
"I love this team," Liang said. "Having people around you who push you to do better definitely motivates me to do better."
This story appeared in the Inaugural VYPE Fort Bend ISD Fall Edition, which is now available to pick up at your local Fort Bend ISD High Schools.
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In the fall, it is team tennis and then in the spring it shifts to individual tennis. But right now it is all about the team and the 2021 UIL Team Tennis Playoffs have been in full swing for a week now as Regional Quarterfinal play begins today.
Last season it was The Woodlands and Memorial that advanced to the Class 6A State Semifinals but both fell in that round. In 2019, Memorial won the Class 6A State Championship.
Here is how the bracket shakes out for Houston-area teams heading into this week with the Regional Finals set for Friday, which will determine who advances to the state tournament.
CLASS 6A - Region II
College Park vs Klein Cain
Klein Oak vs No. 9 The Woodlands
CLASS 6A - Region III
No. 8 Fort Bend Clements vs No. 13 Tompkins (10/19 - 2 pm at Clements HS)
Clear Springs vs No. 19 Pearland Dawson (10/19 - 2:30 pm)
**Winners will face each other in Regional Semifinals later this week**
- Fort Bend Clements has been impressive this postseason, beating Cinco Ranch 12-0 and then downing No. 21 Stratford 10-1. Tompkins has also just dropped one match this postseason.
No. 14 Seven Lakes vs No. 3 Houston Memorial (10/19 - 3 pm at Memorial HS)
Deer Park vs No. 23 Kingwood (10/19 - 2 pm at Baytown Sterling HS)
**Winners will face each other in Regional Semifinals later this week**
- Memorial year in and year out is the favorite to make a Regional Final or State Tournament run out of Houston. The Mustangs entered the postseason ranked as the No. 3 team in Texas in Class 6A by TTCA. They have blanked both Heights and Fort Bend Dulles, 10-0, en route to this Regional Quarters appearance.
Class 5A- Region III
Lake Creek vs No. 15 Katy Jordan (10/19 - 10:30 am - Jordan HS)
Foster vs Baytown Sterling (10/19 - 2:20 pm - Pearland HS)
**Winners will face each other in Regional Semifinals later this week**
No. 21 Friendswood vs Barbers Hill (10/18 - 3:30 pm - Barbers Hill HS)
- Baytown Sterling is trying to relive the magic they caught from last year when they made a deep run in the playoffs. So far in 2021, they are doing just that. The Rangers have beaten both Galena Park and Angleton soundly, winning 19-0 in each match. Katy Jordan is also making some noise as they have beaten New Caney and Austin McCallum each 10-0 to reach the third round.
THE GALLERIES
MAGNOLIA WEST KNOCKS OFF MAGNOLIA IN MAGNOLIA BOWL by Kennedi Cooper
CROSBY HAMMERS TEXAS CITY by Andy Tolbert
VYPE Class 5A Top 10 (Week 9 – 10.18.2021)
10. Texas City (6-1) – Lost to Crosby 57-28
9. Baytown Lee (6-1) – Lost to Galveston Ball 23-13
8. Crosby (5-2) – Defeated Texas City 57-28
7. Manvel (5-2) - Defeated Foster 48-14
6. New Caney (6-1) – Defeated Caney Creek 56-0
5. Fort Bend Hightower (6-1) – Defeated FB Kempner 61-0
4. Magnolia West (7-0) – Defeated Magnolia 21-14
3. Paetow Panthers (7-0) – Defeated Wisdom BF Terry 74-0
2. Montgomery (7-0) – Defeated A&M Consolidated 35-28
1. Fort Bend Marshall Buffs (8-0) – Defeated Willowridge 56-7
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