The Region III 5A semifinal between District 18-5A champions, Cinco Ranch and District 24-5A’s No. 3 seed, Clear Creek, took place Friday night at the Campbell Center.

Cinco Ranch's successful season came to an end in a 25-23, 25-15, 25-23 loss. 

Clear Creek came out scoring hard in game 1 as they led 6-2. But Cinco Ranch came back hard tying it at 10. Cinco Ranch tied the game again at 14 on a kill from Angela Sanders. Then Ali Becker hit two back-to-back kills for a two-point lead. Haley Jacob served an ace for the Wildcats, giving them a 17-16 lead. Clear Creek led 23-18, but Cinco Ranch held the Wildcats as they caught up and tied it at 23. A kill by Natalie Kraus gave Clear Creek a one-point advantage and then the win.

“I really thought winning game one was going to be important in this match. I knew that was key, mainly because Cinco Ranch, so far in their playoff run, won their first match in four and the last two matches in three and we won our last two matches in five,” Clear Creek coach Scott Simonds said.

Game 2 was dominated by Clear Creek. A kill from Megan Pendergast put the Wildcats ahead 2-1. Clear Creek led 9-3 when Cinco Ranch’s Kaitlin Dineen hit a kill. But Clear Creek was unstoppable as they led by seven points, 17-10. The Wildcats increased their lead to 10 points, leading 24-14, as they eventually got the win.

Cinco Ranch started the third game in the lead with a score of 4-2. Clear Creek tied it at five, then Pendergast served an ace putting the Wildcats back on top 7-6. Clear Creek was all over the court keeping everything Cinco Ranch hit off the floor. Their offense and defense was right on. Tied at 11, Cinco Ranch’s Sanders hit a kill to take the lead. But it didn’t last long as Clear Creek soon led 18-13. And that didn’t last long as Cinco Ranch tied it at 20. At 24-23 in favor of Clear Creek, Kara Morse served an ace for the game-winner.

Clear Creek will face Cy-Fair Saturday in the regional final.

“They’re incredibly huge and we are not. But that’s OK because I think all of our playoff matches, the teams are way older, more experienced, and way taller than us," Simonds said. "If we play good volleyball and error free volleyball, we can win this match and shock the absolute world.”

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