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Coach Christina Rudiger is in her second year as the Kennedale High School volleyball coach. Last year?s team was second in the district (6-3A) and went two games deep into the playoffs.??I am real excited. The kids are working hard. They came in decent shape. The energy level has been really great in practice. So, we are looking for good things this year,? said Rudiger.?When asked what players we should watch this year, she responded without hesitation. {{more}}??All of them! We had three graduates last year and two of those were starters. We have three seniors this year. We are going to be young again in age with just three seniors. Right now it looks like there is going to be 12 on the squad. The kids are working really hard.??What stands out about this team so far???After three practices, I think aggressiveness. I think we are going to be much more aggressive this year. I think our ball control is going to better. We are still in the evaluation stage so as of right now the difference is energy and a more positive attitude,??As far as the team to beat this year, she feels that it will be the district champion from last year.???It will be Springtown again, because they have their setter back and one of their middles back. ?So, they have two very nice players returning.? Rudiger said and added, ?They will still have a very competitive squad because they have a very rich tradition. I think a lot of people will say they don?t rebuild, they reload. They play a very fast game and that will not change. Mineral Wells was third [last year] so my guess that they will be in the mix as well.??Volleyball starts off quick. The Lady Kats first scrimmage will be this Friday, August 9 at Mansfield Summit High School in a four team field. Freshmen will play the first of three at 9 a.m. The J.V. will start at 12 p.m. and the Varsity will begin at 1 p.m. ?The next day, Saturday, August 10, another four team scrimmage will be played at Crowley High School.?The first regular season match is next Tuesday, August 13 at Kennedale against Lake Dallas with the Freshmen and J.V. playing at 5 p.m. followed by the Varsity at 6 p.m.?As in all of the girls? sports at Kennedale, Rudiger likes to ?play up.? The Lady Kats? early schedule is filled with 4A and 5A schools. Lake Dallas will be followed by tournaments in Mansfield and Granbury and with separate matches against Summit, Irving Nimitz, Seguin and McKinney. Kennedale will start district play September 27 at Mineral Wells. ???The Lady Kats J.V. Coach is Amie Prater and the Freshman Coach is Kelly Cagle. Both are returning coaches.?The Lady Kats will get their first public introduction at the annual ?Meet the Wildcat? activities this Friday, August 9 beginning at 7 p.m. The Meet the Wildcat will also introduce the 2013 Wildcat Football teams, the Cross Country team, the ?rockin? KHS Marching Wildcats and Color Guard, the KHS Cheer Team, the KHS Pep/Dance Squad and of course Willie the Wildcat. ??The festivities are in the Kennedale Performing Arts Center on the campus of Kennedale High School. The public is invited.?
