The Region 3-5A volleyball playoffs continued Friday night at the Merrell Center with Cinco Ranch and Memorial winning in sweeps, defeating Stratford and Katy respectively.

Cinco Ranch and Memorial move on to the regional quarterfinals next week. Official sites and times will be announced later.

First to take the court was Stratford vs. Cinco Ranch. The Cougar’s Ali Becker hit a kill for the first point of the game. Both teams were scoring early as the game was tied at five. Cinco Ranch then led 8-6 as they scored three more unanswered points, 11-6. At 20-16, in favor of the Cougars, Becker hit a kill to give them 21. At 24-18, a lift was called on Stratford and Cinco Ranch won 25-18.

Game 2 started with Cinco Ranch on top 4-2. Brittany Pembleton and Mary Beth Allcorn hit back-to-back kills for an 8-4 lead. A big block by Becker and Allcorn gave the Cougars a 10 point lead, 17-7. Cinco Ranch led 24-16 when they got the final point of the game, winning 25-17.

The Cougars came out firing in game 3 as they led 4-0. Stratford’s Jennifer Jordan and Lindsay Daniel had a big block bringing the Spartans only one point behind Cinco Ranch, 5-4. But the Cougars held the Spartans at four points while they scored eight unanswered, 13-4. The Cougars led 20-15 when Pembleton hit a kill, 21-15. Cinco Ranch won the game 25-15 and the match.

Earlier in the week, Cinco Ranch coach Tammy Laurence said the girls came out a little tight and just needed to relax and remember to play their game.

“We really worked hard on passing from our last game," Laurence said. "We looked back at what we did different from that game and realized we weren’t doing the same things, pre-game stuff. But we did them today and I think that’s what got them focused. And they remembered, too, they didn’t want to repeat that [last game].”

Then came Memorial's win against Katy. The first game was tied at four when Memorial broke out. The Mustangs led by five and then by ten on Shawn Hindman’s kill, 17-7. Looking for the winning point, the Mustangs were held up by Katy as the Tigers scored five unanswered. Stewart tapped the ball over the net to win the game 25-21.

Game 2 saw Katy leading as Sandra Adeleye hit a kill to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead. But Memorial tied it at five and then broke out. The Mustangs led 15-10, then 20-15. Memorial held Katy at 15 as they scored five more for the 25-15 win.

Memorial came out scoring in the final game as they led 5-1. Katy Wendell served an ace giving the Mustangs a 7-4 lead. Katy’s Cady Mercer hit a kill bringing the Tigers within one point. Jessica Arnold then hit a kill to tie the game at 11. Memorial led 20-15. Katy’s Allison Kingsley served an ace giving the Tigers 20, just two behind Memorial. But Memorial stayed strong as they won the game 25-21 and the match.

“Our passing was great tonight. Our ball handling was really good, so we were happy to see that. I would have liked the pace to be a little bit quicker though,” Memorial coach Beth Gammill said.

Cinco Ranch will face Cypress Woods next week in the Regional Quarterfinals.  Memorial will face Cy-Fair, likely Tuesday night at the Merrell Center.

“I know they are good. They are big. But we’re just going to go play," Gammill said. "When you get into the playoffs, it’s a whole other thing."

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