Pieces change, but goals remain for Ladycats

After compiling a 31-16 overall record (10-2 in District 5-5A) during the 2022 season before being ushered out the playoffs by Argyle last November, the Ladycat volleyball team graduated some of the squads top contributors. Maddie Frank, Alyssa Gonzales, and Mia Little left a void when their respective high school careers came to an end.

Adding to the chasm was the departure of highly-talented outside hitter Lauryn Mack. Mack transferred into Aledo for the 2022-23 academic year and quickly became a prominent player for the Ladycats. 

Unfortunately, as quickly as she arrived in Aledo, Mack transferred back out where she will play for All Saints Episcopal in Fort Worth this season.

Rebuilding a team from one season to the next while endlessly trying to maintain, if not exceed, the same level of success from the year before is the name of the game in prep athletics. In light of the talent that departed at the end of the 2022 season, Ladycat head coach Claire Gay finds herself in an all too familiar position of filling the gaps with fresh faces while looking to veteran players to step up into leadership roles.

One familiar face Gay looked to last season as the future leader of the squad is Vivian Parker. As a junior, Parker amassed 327 kills last season while also scooping up 465 digs. Not only will she play a big role in Aledo’s attack this season, but she will also be looked at as a leader by her teammates.

Haley Lowe and Kinley Elms will also get more work up front for the Ladycats. In the absence of Gonzales and Frank, Lowe and Elms will pair up with Parker to be the three towers of power at the net for the 2023 season. 

Lowe’s defense was her hallmark in 2022 as she collected 60 blocks. 

In her 55 sets played last season, Elms’ kill rate was just shy of one per set. This season the Ladycats will do well if she is able to continue that rate with the dramatic uptick in opportunities to be on the floor coming her way.

Juniors Kenrie Pruitt and Ava Reding return this season, as well. Reding accounted for 456 assists in 2022. 

Pruitt earned more playing time late in the season last year. In 37 sets played in 2022 she accounted for 87 digs and 15 assists. 

In the wake of Little moving on after last season, sophomore Ella Meador will get the bump up to the varsity squad as the resident libero. 

With a mixture of veteran players and salty newcomers to the squad, the Ladycats look to make another run at the top of the District 5-5A standings and hopefully craft a run deep in the playoffs in 2023.