The #7 state ranked Kennedale Lady Kats Volleyball team (29-13, 10-0) will play Bridgeport today at 5 p.m. at Azle High School in first round UIL volleyball playoff action. {{more}}
In UIL bi-district rounds, the 1st place teams in one district are matched with 4th place teams in another along with 2nd place teams playing 3rd place teams. Kennedale as the #1 seed from District 7-4A was matched with Bridgeport (9-26, 3-5) as the 4th seed from District 8-4A. It is a big mismatch and the results should reflect it.After this 1st round action, comes the area round and the winner of tonight’s game will likely face Abilene Wylie (15-15, 6-1), a first round second seed from District 6-4A who plays Iowa Park (4-14, 3-4) in their bi-district match up tonight at 7:30 p.m.UIL Playoffs Bracket
looking to break the curse …
Kennedale is looking to break the “area curse”. In recent years, Kennedale teams have had trouble moving beyond the second round Last year, the Lady Kats (18-13, 7-1) were ranked #24 entering the playoffs. They polished off Castleberry in bi-district before losing 3-1 to Abilene Wylie (31-13, 8-0) in the area round. Wylie eventually lost in the regional semifinals to Bushland (37-5, 8-0) who in turned lost to Decatur who played Argyle and won the 2014 4A title.
It does not help that Kennedale plays in one of the toughest areas of the state for Texas 4A volleyball. Decatur has been the state champion for the past 2
years. Before that, it was Abilene Wylie
and then Lucas Lovejoy (east of Allen and Plano) for three years. (Lovejoy has since move up in classification). But,somewhere in the mix for a state title run in the recent years, you can bet that Stephenville, Abilene Wylie, Argyle and Decatur have been there.
There was a stretch from 2008 to 2010 under then Head Coach Kim Padgett, that the Lady Kats made it on into the regional quarterfinals (third round) But, the last four year the Kats have been stopped just short of that.Now in her second year at KHS, Head Coach Jennifer Patterson believes this team can break through and do more, much more.
?We have a really, good chance of doing very well this year. [This team] has got themselves into holes this season but instead of letting it get them upset and stay down emotionally, they have been able to pull themselves out. The team is focused, watching more films and learning how to scout their opponent, in fact, we will be loading up after the game tonight to go watch Wylie play.?
She went to say, “After tonight, we should be playing again on Saturday 2 p.m. at Eastland High School, likely against Wylie. Then, if that goes well, we will face Decatur afterwards.?
Coach Patterson is encouraging as many as possible to make it tonight to support the team but wants everyone to be sure and pencil in a road trip to Eastland on Saturday. Eastland is located west on I-20 past Ranger, approximately 107 miles from Kennedale High School.
Azle High School Google Directions from Kennedale High School (approximately 48 minutes – recommend going west around 820 loop to avoid construction downtown)
Eastland High School Google directions.
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