The Kennedale Lady Kats began the season with a new coach, a new offensive scheme, a new district and renewed hope. It ended last Friday night just short of everything they had wanted. {{more}}A tough pre-district schedule forged a team, learning to work together and fight through some tough losses. The Lady Kats then breezed through district play, save a lone loss to Godley that was rectified in a later rematch.The young team secured a share of the district title, a number #24 state ranking and a bi-district playoff championship.
But, after winning earlier last week against Castleberry High School in the bi-district matchup, the Lady Kats lost to a perennial regional playoff team, Abilene Wylie.
The game started off with a solid win for Kennedale in the first set, 25-18. Wylie stormed back to take the 2nd set 25-12, letting the Kats know that this was going to be fight.
Wylie took the final two sets but Kennedale made Wylie earn it. In the 3rd set it was a battle all the way with the Kats losing by 2, 26-24. Wylie took the next and final set by a score of 25-17.
The Wylie team has since moved on to defeat Vernon in the regional quarterfinal match and will face #2 Bushland in a region semifinal on Friday.
Kennedale did make a statement this year showing that they were good and that they should be even better next year.
The LadyKats will miss the senior play and leadership of Ashley Lineberger, Sabrina Allen, Ashley Jones and especially the play of Danielle Hedglin and Shelby Flowers who played every match and every set.
Head Coach Jennifer Patterson will return six starters off a 19-13, 9-1 team – Maggie Pyles (Jr), Jasmine Alli (So), Raeley Crosley (Fr), Bethany Klinkenberg (So), Kylie Foster (Jr), Kendall Vondra (Jr) along with Darby Smith (Jr) and Emma Riffe (So).Student assistants this year were Head Manager Emily Huckabee, Statistician Madison Blair and Manager Megan Hale.Coaching staff: Head Coach Jennifer Patterson, Assistant Coaches Tavia Muzzi and Jimyira Hicks.
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