Texas HS Match to Watch: Klein vs. Stratford

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school volleyball season is officially on in the state of Texas and during the next four months, hundreds of matches will be played across the Lone Star State until we know the new state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be covering multiple matches every week and featuring the players that stand out the most for their performances over the course of the season, but we'll also preview some matches that have the potential to be very interesting ones. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The non-district matches are typically used for teams to find their best chemistry and fine-tune their games ahead of the start of district play, but some encounters will be very exciting ones. Here's one of them:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Klein vs. Stratford - August 8, 5:30 PM - @ Klein HS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["177531"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Entering her season with the Bearkats, Smith is expected to be even more important to the team, contributing with her strong play and leadership. She was sidelined for most of last season, but was able to make an impact when she was on the court and also displayed a high level of play during the last club season. A very technical player, Smith will likely spli the team's setting duties with fellow senior Kenzie Frazier, but she can also help the team offensively, turning into a right side hitter when she's at the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398edf0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16817782/6347b0b73452ec0e58f293db' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398ee3d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Faith Williams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Klein","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Skyline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Williams transferred to Klein last season and got to make a massive impact in her first year with the team. A very physical and consistent middle, she became an important piece in the Bearkats' offensive system, getting set quite often and scoring points at a very high rate. Her big blocking was also a big asset for Klein as it not only got the team several points, but also made the lives of defenders playing behind her much easier with much space she was able to cover. Expect Williams to have an even larger role this season as Klein will need to use as many scoring threats as they can to thrive in a strong district.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398eee2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18916683/6425a48e5b3d3408a47e8572' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398ef05"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["192486"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Holcomb didn't get a lot of playing time last season, but that could change this time with the graduation of starting libero Kiersten Hay. Holcomb is not the only candidate to take her place in the team's lineup, but is among the strongest ones, bringing technical quality and experience to the court. She handles her backcourt duties very well and is capable of making strong plays on defense. Holcomb is also a strong server and can add to the Bearkats on that are of the game as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398ef56"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17986884/6334996c2aa66d075c7ffdfe' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398ef73"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254303"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Stratford will look much different this season after a strong senior class graduated, but one constant from last year will be Corbeli swinging hard at the pin. The senior will likely be one of the focal points of the team's offense and she's displayed at both the high school and the club levels she's up for the task. Corbeil has tremendous power in her swings, but is also very resourceful and intelligent with her shot selection, being very difficult for opposing blockers to play against. She's also solid at passing and defense and helps the team as a true all-around player.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398eff6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15133982/6358ab3eda5c0d0894c8454e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398f01e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269826"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hickman spent most of her freshman season with Stratford's junior varsity roster,  but that will certainly change in 2023 as she's expected to not only have a role, but to have a big one with the Spartans. A very long right side hitter, the lefty was one of the main revelations of the last club season and her firepower will be a great addition to a Stratford team that could use some new scoring options. A lefty, Hickman has great reach in her offense but also sees the game well and scores with well-placed shots. Her blocking is also a big part of her game as Hickman uses her size extremely well to get stops.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398f08c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17962082/6359527419a6d509c0a449ad' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398f0b3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["323202"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Cook had significant playing time with Stratford as a freshman and will be one of the players that will form the core of the team this season. She was on the court in big moments last season and will be able to help the Spartans with her consistent and efficient play as a sophomore. Very technical and intelligent, Cook runs a very effective offense, predicated on her smart distribution and her accuracy.  She's also very mature, letting her creativity take comtrol when in-system and prioritizing precision when the pass is not ideal.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398f100"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15464352/637bd2ac8cd42211f8ee4549' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c708398f11b"} /-->