Cinco Ranch has wanted this all year.

The Cougars have been working towards a number of goals, but at the front of them was finishing of the District 19-6A season with an undefeated district record.

Cinco Ranch (32-5, 16-0) had an opportunity to accomplish that goal on Tuesday and didn’t let it slip through its fingers, despite going up against a talented and motivated Seven Lakes (25-15, 12-4) squad, beating the Spartans three sets to one (20-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21) and finishing off the regular season on the right note.

“I can’t even put into words what this means to us,” said senior middle blocker Emily Killam. “I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into the season because we lost a big piece. But these girls, especially the outsides have stepped up so much and been such powerhouses. We came together and molded together as a team and it’s been amazing. It’s a feeling like nothing else I’ve ever experienced.”

The Cougars fell behind early in the first set and had to battle back into it. Seven Lakes led 17-11, Cinco trimmed the lead but the Spartans still took the first set 25-20. Cinco bounced back to take the lead in the second set, but Seven Lakes answered at every opportunity. The set was tied a number of times and it could have went either way before Cinco Ranch pulled out the win 26-24 to get back even.

“This prepares us and is exactly what we needed heading into playoffs,” said Cinco Ranch head coach Danielle Wells. “We’re going to come across some good competition in the playoffs and you have to be in the right mindset. This will get us there and gets our heads and mental game stronger.”

The Cougars started to pull away in the third set and led most of the way. They gained an early lead before Seven Lakes tied things at 19, but Cinco came right back to win it 25-20. The fourth set was just as close, but the Cougars again found a way, pulling away to seal the set and match by winning 25-21.

“We’ve gone through ups and downs this season but we’ve been together through all of it, found a way to get through anything and we’ve come together and won,” said junior setter Kassie O’Brien. “Everyone on this team just works so hard in practice and it’s gotten us to where we are today. We’re district champs and that’s a great feeling.”

But while this was goal number one for the Cougars, it was far from their only goal. Cinco Ranch made it all the way to the Region III-6A Final last season before falling to Tompkins, and this group is out to go on another deep playoff run and potentially further.

“It’s great, but we’re not done yet. We still have playoff and we have business to take care of in front of us,” O’Brien said. “We’re so motivated. We know that this could be a special year and every single one of us is pushing each other. We’re excited and we are going to be ready come next week.”