Setter Ting Liu, with teammate middle hitter, Brianne Boner, jump to block a spike by a Washburn opponent earlier this season at White Auditorum. Kellen JenKins/The Bulletin.
Junior setter and business major Ting Liu isn’t hard to miss on the volleyball court. Standing at 6’1,” Liu is the tallest setter in the MIAA.
But that’s not the only reason why Liu is a prominent figure in the league and around the country.
A season ago, Liu was selected First-Team AVCA All-American, First-Team All-South Central Region and First-Team All-MIAA. In her freshman year, Liu was selected the South Central Region Freshman of the Year and the MIAA Freshman of the Year.
Postseason awards have been plentiful for Liu. She both appreciates them and hopes that more are on the way.
“It was a very big honor for me and it made me feel good,” Liu said. “I hope to get more.”
A native of China, Liu attended a different high school than most at the Beijing Fifth Sport School. Her dedication to volleyball brought her to the U.S. to play for Emporia State – something that head coach Bing Xu is grateful for.
“We are really fortunate to have her on the team,” Xu said.
Xu would also go on to talk about how she has adapted to the American style of volleyball.
“I think mentality wise, she’s getting stronger,” Xu said. “In her first couple of years, she was trying to adjust to a different playing style, and now she’s really getting used to it.”
Senior outside hitter and marketing major Arica Shepard knows Liu pretty well – they’ve been playing together since Liu was a freshman just two years ago. Shepard attributes Liu’s success to her stifling defense and quick hand-eye coordination.
“She has quick hands – that’s what we definitely need for our volleyball team,” Shepard said. “That’s what Bing has always stressed on is trying to quicken our defense every year, and she’s just adapted really well in doing that. If you ever watch it, they (Liu’s hands) are fast compared to a lot of setters. Plus, she’s six-foot something, and that’s always helpful when you know you have a little bit of an overpass and she can bring it back.”
Liu has some added responsibilities this year being a captain for the Hornets – a responsibility that Xu felt comfortable placing on her.
“She’s one of our captains right now,” Xu said. “Now she has more responsibility – as a coach, I try to put something more on her shoulders. We know she can carry it.”
Xu went on to mention how important a piece Liu is to the Hornets’ volleyball puzzle.
“She’s kind of like a quarterback – she’s running the offense,” Xu said. “Every ball with probably go through her hands. She knows the game very well – we need someone who knows the game very well and runs the game pretty smoothly. She’s doing very well. Also, she’s very tall up front, which is a huge advantage.”
Thus far, Liu has enjoyed her experience playing volleyball in America. It also helps that Liu’s teammates have helped her acclimate to the American lifestyle.
“I think our team plays very good, and that gives me a very good experience playing volleyball in the U.S.,” Liu said. “All of my teammates are really nice to me.”
Xu echoed the sentiment.
“All of the players trust her, and she trusts everybody,” Xu said.
The volleyball team has been dominant this year, earning a 26-3 record throughout the regular season. Liu’s skills, both mentally and physically, have been an invaluable asset to the team during their run for another MIAA Championship, according to Shepard.
“You don’t see very many setters her height, so if we do have an overpass we can bring that back,” Shepard said. “She’s extremely consistent. There’s not very often that she doesn’t get the ball where she wants it to go.”
Liu believes that accountability is something that has helped the team achieve their current success.
“Our team plays together really smoothly right now,” Liu said. “I think everyone does their own job – that’s why we can play well together.”
Shane Wilson/The Bulletin
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