Photo by Nolan Ruth
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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ARLINGTON— For the second consecutive season, head coach Claire Gay and her Aledo Ladycats are regional champions and advance to the state semifinals after sweeping the Birdville Lady Hawks 25-19, 25-18, and 25-21.
Despite some jitters and a few rare errors, the Ladycats did not have much trouble finding momentum and making plays. Specifically from Alyssa Todd and Kaelee Berkley who both had a very solid performance attacking.
Todd totaled 13 kills in the match while Berkely totaled 9 alongside Karsyn Trott, who killed the final points of each of the first two sets.
In the second set both teams began to crash the net a lot more and the teams went back-and-forth with scoring. However, the Ladycats went on an 8-point run to jump out to a 15-8 lead at one point, and 20-11 at another point. Trott then finished off the set just as she did the first.
Birdville gave its all to not go down in straight sets, jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead thanks to a powerful kill by Emma Lawless.
The Ladycats responded with a pair of runs, highlighted by a smart play from Berkley where the ball spun on the top of the net and she pulled back to let the ball drop outside the line at just the last second.
Just a few plays later, Kailey Hamilton called ballgame when the senior setter tapped the ball over the net, fooling the Lady Hawks who were set to defend the kill, and sending Aledo to the state semifinals for the second year in a row, sixth time overall.
The Ladycats will face Highland Park in the state semifinal match this coming at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15 at Rock Hill High School in Prosper. The winner will move on to the state championship to be played in Garland the following week.
