Volleyball: Yellow Jackets earned their success over the years

KERMIT True, 13 years had passed since Kermit High School's volleyball team last recorded a playoff victory.

That streak has been wiped away twice within the last week.

But when the Lady Jackets (31-5) take on Peaster (38-2) at 6 tonight in the first semifinal of the Region I-2A Tournament at Abilene Christian University's Moody Coliseum, it isn't exactly an accomplishment that came out of nowhere.

Kermit is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance with a core group of eight seniors who have helped build the program along the way.

It certainly wasn't easy losing postseason openers three consecutive years, including a loss to Amarillo River Road last year in the area round after the Lady Jackets had earned a bi-district bye for winning a district title.

"We learned from last year," senior outside hitter Lauren Nutt said. "We kind of overlooked River Road and then we didn't show up when we played them. This far in the playoffs, we know we cannot afford to overlook teams."

Kermit got a rematch in this year's area round and it came through with a four-set victory Nov. 8 for its first playoff victory since 1995.

Then came a test of the team's focus Tuesday when it faced District 4-2A rival Alpine for the fourth time this season.

The Lady Jackets were in control for much of the match and bounced back quickly from their lone rough spot for a 25-13, 25-15, 10-25, 25-14 victory.

That earned Kermit its first trip to the regional tournament since 1995, meaning it is one of the final 16 Class 2A teams still alive in the state.

"We're so excited to get to go," senior defensive specialist Emily Ethridge said. "It's a new thing for this team. For the seniors, when we were freshmen, it was a big deal looking ahead to get to do something like this. Our class stepped up to be the leaders and we pulled it through for our senior year."

Not that it was a completely smooth ride.

Kermit was dominated by Crane in the District 4-2A opener Oct. 7 and then had to fight off match points Oct. 21 to beat the Ladybirds 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 27-15, 15-8 in the rematch. Senior middle blockers Brittany Heiser (30 kills) and Kaecye Bedell (18 kills) both had huge matches as senior setter Ashley Montoya dished out 53 assists.

Confidence has soared since then, with Kermit then sweeping Crane 25-15, 25-22, 25-22 in a District 4-2A championship playoff Nov. 1.

Heiser has averaged 17 kills a match since the regular season ended and Bedell has averaged 12.3, while Montoya has provided 32 assists per match in the postseason. Defensively, Taylor Shirley has averaged 14 digs the last four matches and Lucero Porras has averaged 11.

At this stage, Kermit's long playoff drought is far in the past. When Kermit plays Peaster today, it will be the only Permian Basin team still alive in the playoffs.

"It's a really good thing," Shirley said. "Everyone probably wishes they were us right now, but hopefully they'll be supporting us. I just hope we get out there and get after (Peaster)."

The Kermit-Peaster winner advances to the regional championship match, scheduled for noon Saturday.

Defending Class 2A state champion Bushland (28-11) faces Nocona (25-11) in tonight's second semifinal, with Bushland a heavy favorite to advance to the state tournament for a third consecutive season.

First-year Kermit head coach Irma Hernandez, who played on the school's last regional team in 1995 before a four-year college career at Eastern New Mexico, praised her team for getting back to this level.

"They've started a new tradition for Kermit and our future players," Hernandez said. "Now the younger girls have something to look forward to and a goal to reach or to surpass."

She wouldn't mind it at all if the Lady Jackets set the bar quite high this weekend.