They know what it feels like to be at the regional tournament and what it takes. The girls had the expectation of getting there and they’re working towards one common goal right now. Anytime you have that as a team it makes it even better.”
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Cinco Ranch is on a mission.
The Cougars have just a singular goal in mind and they aren’t letting anyone get in their way as they try to accomplish that.
Cinco wants to get to Garland. That’s the driving factor and the Cougars were not going to let any team get in the way of them making their next step and reaching the regional tournament.
The Cougars came out dominant winners on Tuesday in the regional quarterfinals, topping Cy-Fair three sets to one (25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19), getting past the Bobcats and advancing to their second straight regional tournament.
“We just have an energy this year,” said junior outside hitter Gabi Martinez. “We have a lot of energy and support one another and we just want to push through. That’s how we approach every game and we know that as long as we fight we’re going to have the opportunity to keep going.”
Cinco Ranch had to withstand a barrage from Cy-Fair to start. The two teams traded leads and went back and forth before Cinco took the lead for good late and held on to take it 25-23. The Cougars settled into the game heading into the second set after that and dominated, winning it 25-14 to take a commanding lead.
“We talked about how there was going to be some long rallies in this game and you have to go earn it,” said Cinco Ranch head coach Danielle Wells. “That’s a great defensive team and they fought the whole time. We had to play for every point and everyone had to be ready to go. The girls did a great job of that tonight.”
Cy-Fair wouldn’t go down without a fight and took the third set in very close fashion, but Cinco came back and closed tings out with a 25-19 win in the fourth set to seal the win.
“We just have a lot of weapons and it’s amazing because no team can defend them all,” Martine said. “You can’t just stop one thing and they don’t know what’s coming. It just makes us even stronger as a team.”
With the win, Cinco Ranch clinched a spot in the regional semifinals as they try to get back to the regional final for the second straight season. Cinco Ranch will play Pearland Dawson (38-9) at 5 p.m. Friday at Delmar Feildhouse as both try to reach the regional final.
“Getting to where we did last year and having the experience of the regional tournament has mad them hungry,” Wells said. “We have a lot of returners and they know what it feels like to be there and what it takes. They had the expectation of that and they’re working towards one common goal right now. Anytime you have that as a team it makes it even better.”