XULA’s Pat Kendrick: Another award and a 600th victory

NEW ORLEANS — It was another conference tournament championship and another automatic bid to NAIA nationals for Xavier University of Louisiana women’s volleyball this past weekend. But it also was significant for XULA’s Pat Kendrick.

The Gold Nuggets’ 22-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-19, 16-14 victory at XULA against Our Lady of the Lake in the Red River Athletic final resulted in Kendrick winning RRAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. In 2021 the league’s head coaches agreed to give the award to the coach whose team won the RRAC Tournament.

Kendrick has won 23 coach-of-the year awards at conference, state or regional levels.

The victory against OLLU also was Kendrick’s 600th in 36 seasons as a college head coach.

Kendrick was 467-439 in 30 seasons (1985-2014) at NCAA Division I George Mason, and she’s 133-38 in her sixth season at XULA.

“I have enjoyed my time at Xavier,” Kendrick said. “It has been a great fit. I’m thankful to many for the awards and milestones. I certainly didn’t do any of this alone. I look forward to more challenges for our program.”

The next challenge will start at noon Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas, when the Gold Nuggets (21-8) visit seventh-ranked SAGU (32-0) in the first round of nationals. SAGU defeated XULA 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 Oct. 29 at SAGU.

“SAGU is very good and the only unbeaten team in the tournament,” Kendrick said. “Our goal, obviously, is to play better than we did in October and give ourselves a better chance to win.”