Lady Wildcats clinch final playoff spot in play-in

The Waelder Lady Wildcats are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

The Lady Wildcats cliched the third and final playoff spot in District 28-A Saturday, Nov. 2 in a three-set sweep of the Prairie Lea Lady Arrows (25-15, 25-14, 25-18) in a play-in match.

Waelder head volleyball coach Abigail Monigold, in her first head coaching job, was excited to be part of history.

“It feels beyond great. These girls have worked for it all season, and being a small team, it almost felt impossible, and here we are,” Monigold said.

The Lady Wildcats had to overcome many obstacles to get this point. That includes many forfeits on their schedule.

“It happens with a team of seven. You know, one person goes out with a sickness, one person goes out with grades, and you’ve got to deal with what you’ve got to deal with. But we keep coming back, and we keep fighting for it,” Monigold said.

The Lady Wildcats face the Buckholts Lady Badgers in the first round of the Class A volleyball playoffs, and Monigold will be ready for them.

“They all doubt us, they doubt Waelder, and they doubt our ability with such a small team, and we're just going to keep showing up and keep showing them who we are and what we're made of,” Monigold said.