Ladycat netters drop season opener at Keller

For the second season in a row, Aledo’s Ladycat volleyball squad started the year off with a strong performance on the road in Keller before ultimately ending up with a loss. 

The Ladycats (0-1) were swept by the defending District 4-6A champions on Monday, Aug. 7, in three highly competitive games by scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-19.

With every new season comes new faces earning the opportunity to step up into more significant roles. As key figures of Aledo Volleyball like Alyssa Gonzales, Maddie Frank, and Mia Little all graduated following the 2022 season, opportunities for young players like junior middle blocker Haley Lowe, junior defensive specialist Logyn Denbrow, sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Todd, and junior defensive specialist Morgan Estavez open up.

Lowe, Denbrow, Todd, and Estavez ran with the opportunity in their first varsity match of the 2023 campaign. Todd led the Ladycats in kills with nine while also keeping the floor clean with 10 digs on the night. Estavez led the Ladycats in aces against the Lady Indians with three to her credit. Meanwhile, Denbrow served up a pair of aces of her own on the night.

Lowe had a solid outing at the net, as the 5-foot-10 middle-blocker scored three kills offensively and a pair of blocks to round out her defensive performance.

Then there are the returning varsity players tasked with setting the example for the younger players. Kinley Elms, who had a solid sophomore season last year, came out firing on all cylinders at the net for the Ladycats. Elms tallied eight kills in the season opener while also picking up a pair of blocks. Vivian Parker had a well-rounded performance, as well. The 6-foot-1, senior collected three kills, a block, and 10 digs across three sets.

Junior defensive specialist Kenrie Pruitt led Aledo in digs as she amassed 20 in her first match of the year. Junior setter Ava Reding rounded out the stat leaders for the Ladycats with 18 assists on the night.

From here the Ladycats will head south – way down south. They travel to Katy for a three-day tournament this weekend just in time to wave goodbye to summer break before the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 16.