The Kennedale Lady Kat volleyball team (19-3, 4-0) defeated Carrolton Ranchview Friday night to claim first place in District 10/4A and will play their first UIL playoff game this Thursday at Van Alstyne. (Van Alstyne is about 1 hour and 30 minutes north of Kennedale, located on I-75).
Kennedale defeated Ranchview in 3 sets (25-14, 25-6, 25-6) wrapping up an undefeated district run where the Lady Kats never lost a single set in any of their matches. In fact, Kennedale has not lost a district match in three years.
Kennedale won their district this year playing a condensed district schedule. Due to pandemic concerns, the five teams that fielded a team, played each other just once instead of the traditional two times. The sixth team listed in District 10/4A, Williams Prep, did not field a team.
About Van Alstyne …
The Lady Panthers finished 4th in District 9/4A with a record of 15-8, 7-5. They finished behind Celina (18-4, 11-1), Melissa (18-9, 9-3), and Aubrey 16-6, 7-5).
Van Alstyne moved up from Class 3A this past year, where they finished as state runner-ups in the state finals in 2019.
Kennedale is ranked No. 17 in the state in 4A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. Kennedale is led by players Bryley Steinhilber (SR) who leads Kennedale with 289 kills; Madeline Pyles (JR) who has 254 kills; Tatum Pavey (SR) who has a team-best 326 digs, and Gracyn Reed (JR) who leads the team in assists (535) and aces (60). Kennedale will be defending their Region II championship title from the 2019 season which earned the program’s first-ever appearance in the state final four championship playoff.
Vs Ranchview – Friday (W) 3-0 …
Top performers (top 3 in each category)
- Bryley Steinhilber (SR) 8 kills, 4 digs, 7 recpts;
- Katie Spell (SR) 7 kills, 4 blocks, 3 recpts;
- Bridget Barton (Jr) 6 kills;
- Gracyn Reed (JR) 3, 18 asst;
- Maddie Pyles (JR) 1 ace, 6 digs;
- Alexandria Youngblood (SO) 1 ace, 5 blocks;
- Tatum Pavey (SR) 1 ace, 11 digs, 9 recpts;
- True Johnson (So) 1 ace, 11 asst;
- Casey Guerry (JR) 2 blocks.
