Region 3-5A bi-district volleyball playoffs took place at The Berry Center Tuesday night as Cinco Ranch defeated Langham Creek and Cypress Woods defeated Katy Taylor, both 3-1.

Cinco Ranch, the district 18-5A champs, came out a little tight in game 1 versus Langham Creek.

The Lobos came out scoring, taking an early 2-0 lead. Ali Becker got the Cougars their first point with a kill. Langham Creek led by six points, 10-4. As the Lobos led 15-11, Cougar Kate Choyce served an ace. But Langham Creek got that point right back as Chelsea Cyarmathy hit a hard kill, 16-12. The Lobos led 22-16 as Cinco Ranch started a comeback with five unanswered points, 22-21. Shelby Kennedy served an ace to end the game, giving Langham Creek the 25-23 win.

“Some of these girls had never been in a playoff game before. So I felt like we were a little tight. But once they calmed down and realized this is the same game, we started making our comeback,” Cinco Ranch coach Tammy Laurence said.

Cinco Ranch scored first in game 2, leading 10-5. The Cougars held that lead at 14-7 and at 20-12. But the Lobos scored four points, giving the Cougars a little threat. At 24-18, a block by the Lobos saved the Cougars win, but Becker eventually hit a kill to win 25-21.

Cinco Ranch really stepped up in games 3 & 4. In game 3, Becker hit a kill to give the Cougars a 10-6 lead. Later, Becker hit another kill for a 14-7 lead. Brittany Pembleton hit a kill for an 18-9 lead. Erika Chin served an ace for a 20-11 lead as Cinco Ranch eventually won the game 25-14. In game 4, the Cougars led 5-1 by way of a kill by Becker and a big block by Miller. Later, Becker hit a kill to take an 11-point lead, 17-6, and finally won 25-11.

In Cy Woods and Taylor’s first meeting, both teams came out strong, but Cy Woods left with the victory.

Game 1 was tied at 13 when Cy Woods broke out. Desiree Elliott hit a kill to give Cy Woods a two-point lead, then Shannon McClean's ace to give the Wildcats a 21-18 lead. At 24-21, Cristina Arenas hit a kill to give Cy Woods the 25-21 win.

Game 2 belonged to Taylor as they led 6-1. Jyoti Ruffin hit a kill to double the Mustang lead, 16-8. Ruffin then hit another kill taking a 20-12 lead. Cy Woods then scored four unanswered points, 20-16. Eventually Ruffin hit a kill giving Taylor a 25-20 win.

Cy Woods controlled game 3, winning 25-12. Caleigh McCorquodale hit a kill, putting the score in favor of the Wildcats 4-0. They led 10-1 then 17-7. With two aces, Cy Woods won the game and were only one game away from winning the match.

The final game was tied 5-5. Taylor took the lead at 8-5. Wildcat Elliot hit a kill to tie the game at 10. She immediately hit another kill to take the lead. Cy Woods kept the lead through the game. At 24-16, Taylor wasn’t giving up. The Mustangs held the Wildcats at 24 points while they scored six. But on a kill from Arenas, Cy Woods won the game 25-22.

“I’m just so proud of my kids. This is a second year program and we have no seniors. Except for one kid, this is the first time to ever experience a playoff,” Cy Woods head coach Ashley Ahlfinger said.

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