The Kennedale Lady Kats have made it to the final four of the 4A state volleyball playoffs twice in the last two years, losing in the semifinals each time. Each time it was to the eventual state champion.
This is heady stuff for any school, at any level, but, this senior-laden team has to believe that now is their time. The third time is a charm, right? If they do it, will be the first-ever volleyball title for Kennedale High School.
So far so good.
Reasons to believe …
*Kennedale (23-3) is ranked #3 in Class 4A by TGCA, MaxPreps, and Texas Volleyball Insider.
*Seven of the starters this year are seniors, five were starters last year (denoted by * in the list below). Five of these were varsity players in 2019 (**) and four were listed as varsity players their freshmen year in 2018 (***). All have won district and/or state honors.
Senior players include 2020 All-State player Maddie Pyles***, Gracyn Reed***, Amaya Constantino**), Bridget Barton***, Taylor Poore***, Avery Petters, and Casey Guerry***.
Other starters this year include two juniors who were starters last year as sophomores. They are True Johnson and Alexandria Youngblood. Youngblood had also made the varsity as a freshman.
*In 2020 Kennedale lost to the eventual 4A state champions, the Decatur Lady Eagles in the semifinals. In 2019, the Lady Kats lost to eventual state champions Lamar Fulshear in the state semifinals. In 2018, they made the regional quarterfinals (3rd round).
*Kelly Karl is in her 4th year as Head Coach at KHS, she has brought the Kats to the brink twice. In her first year, the Kats lost in the third round. The Kats lost 17 games in 2018, in 2019 the Kats lost 8 games and in 2020 it was just 4 games. Under her leadership, the Kats have never lost a district title.
This is definitely a team worth watching …
