Author photo

By Spring Atchison
Office Manager 

Kirkwood signs to play under Wilkening at Otero in La Junta

 

November 25, 2020

(Herald photo by Spring Atchison)

KENDYL KIRKWOOD, Fleming Lady Wildcat senior, signed her letter of to play volleyball next year at Otero Junior College in La Junta. Pictured with Kirkwood at her signing ceremony held Friday, Nov. 20 at Fleming High School are front row (l-r), Lady Wildcat Head Coach Doug Kamery, Kirkwood and Lady WIldcat Assistant Coach Amber Schliesser; back row (l-r), sister Kally Kirkwood, father Randy Kirkwood, mother Jolene Kirkwood and brother Treyson Kirkwood.

Although Kendyl Kirkwood's senior volleyball season has been put on hold, that hasn't prevented her from planning for a future on the volleyball court. In a year where the Colorado High School Volleyball State Championships would have already been played, COVID-19 restrictions have forced a postponement to the finale of Kirkwood's high school career.

Despite the setback, she recently made her commitment to play college volleyball official with a signing ceremony held Friday, Nov. 20, where she signed a letter of intent to play at Otero Junior College in La Junta in the fall. As a Rattler at Otero, Kirkwood will play under the coaching of former Fleming Lady Wildcat Morgan Wilkening who graduated from FHS in 2012.

"Once I heard I was offered the head coaching position, I instantly thought of some northeast talent that I wanted to take with me," said Wilkening. "Kendyl was at the top of that list!"

Standing at 5'11", Kirkwood has served the as the a setter and middle hitter for Lady Wildcat offense the past three years. On defense, she's held down the middle blocker position.

"She's not only lengthy and athletic; she's the kind of person we want to represent our Rattler program," Wilkening continued. "She comes from a winning program at Fleming High School and Coach Abbey (Wehrman) and I have no doubt she will continue to bring that fortitude with her!"

The first three years of Kirkwood's high school volleyball career have been marked with a number of successes including a 1A State Championship title and a State Runner-up title. She earned a Colorado High School Activities Association Second Team designation in her debut season, All-State Honorable Mention in her sophomore season and was listed as a CHSAA First Team selection following the completion of her junior season. She's been awarded All-Conference honors by area coaches for all three years of her high school career.

As the team's setter, Kirkwood has assisted with total of 2,745 sets thus far in her three-season career. Last year she tallied 374 assists with just 11 ball handling errors in a 108-set season.

In addition to her contribution at the net in assists, Kirkwood averaged 1.4 kills per set last season. She's put 392 kills on the floor in her career and more than doubled her freshman tally during her sophomore and junior years with 163 and 156 kills, respectively.

She averaged 2.1 blocks per match last year with a total tally of 69 which brought her career total to 156.

"We are very fortunate to have snagged her and we have very high hopes for her," said Wilkening. "We are very grateful to her and her family for trusting us during these changing times and we know wherever we need her, she will give us everything she has!"

Kirkwood said she is currently unsure of her major, but she plans to focus her studies either in the medical field or elementary education.

Under current COVID-19 guidelines, the 2020-21 basketball season is slated to begin in January and end in late-February. The volleyball season is scheduled to follow basketball during Season C. The CHSAA website lists Season C as beginning on March 1 with contests as early as March 4.

 

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