Game announcement cover with Karson Kendall. Photo Credit: HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Virgin Islands National Team sophomore defender Karson Kendall will begin his collegiate season this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. A.S.T on ESPN +, as his school, High Point University, will play Lees-McRae in the season opener.
It is Kendall's team's first game since the pandemic, and he told the Consortium, “It feels like we’ve been a bunch of caged dogs ready to break out.” Kendall said he is not nervous because the team is prepared. “We are definitely excited to go out and see the fruits of our labor," he added.
Kendall played at the MLS club Sporting Kansas City Academy before attending High Point University. In his first season at the university, the team reached the Big South Tournament final and was one win away from the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament bid. The team fell 4-1 to Campbell in that final.
Kendall has high hopes for his second go around as an NCAA athlete. His personal goal is to have a breakout year. “Last season was a good season for me but I feel over the time we’ve had to train and prepare, I’ve stepped it up a whole other gear,” he said
He was named one of the two captains of this year’s High Point team and is optimistic that he can lead teammates over that final hurdle and into the NCAA tournament. “Being one of the two captains, I feel that I need to lead us to a trophy,” Kendall said.
Photo courtesy High Point University Athletics
His expectations for High Point isn’t just to go one game further than last year and win a conference championship. Instead, Kendall eyes getting to the NCAA tournament and doing some damage. “This team is something special and I feel that we can not only win our conference tournament, but go far in the NCAA tournament. It’s a special group of guys and I’m looking forward to fighting with them," he said.
Kendall was the captain of the U-23 Olympic qualifying tournament that took place in St. Croix the summer of 2019.
He told the Consortium that during the 11-month break, he improved his comfort level with the ball. “I’m confident in high-pressure situations and feel that I can dribble and pass with a much higher positive percentage than I had last year,” he said.
Kendall gave high praise to the coaching staff at High Point for the growth in his game. “They have helped me tremendously, I’m thankful to have a staff like that backing me,” he said.
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