Cinco Ranch is in the process of setting a new standard for its already well-established program.
As the Katy team travels to Garland, TX, they recall the lessons of the past.
The Cougars fell to Tompkins in the Regional Finals a year ago, only to flip the script this Fall by defeating the district rival twice before advancing all the way to this year’s State Final Four in Class 6A.
This is familiar territory, given the last time Cinco Ranch was on this stage was during the 2009 season in which they fell to Austin Westlake. Head coach Danielle Wells was the Freshman A-team coach back then.
So, what’s been the difference this season?
“I think a lot of it has to do with the team’s chemistry and leadership,” said Wells. “You can really see that they’re playing for each other and wanting the same thing. There’s much more cohesiveness this year. They have the same goal and they’re willing to do anything to achieve it.”
There’s no secret who the stars of the show for Cinco Ranch (37-5; 16-0 in district) are.
It all begins with their junior setter, Kassidy O’Brien (Kentucky-commit).
“She (O’Brien) has really grown into leadership this year, after being on varsity since her freshman year,” Wells said. “Being in the setter position you kind of have to be, as the team’s ‘quarterback’. But, she leads the right way – with encouragement and with a demand from her teammates. She knows what her team is capable of and I think she understands that if the team gives us something good, she can make us better.”
Kassidy O'Brien
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Makenna Loo
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Gabriella Martinez
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Emily Killam
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Shea Rainosek
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Alongside O’Brien, Wells has been able to depend on Gabriella Martinez (Jr. OH), Makenna Loo (Sr. OH), Emily Killam (Sr. MB), Magdalene Finnegan (Jr. L), and a surge from Ariana Willis (Sr. OH) time and time again throughout the season.
Wells has been working towards this moment since she began working with the Cinco Ranch program in 2006. But more importantly to her, the team has pushed past their limits to earn this opportunity.
Given everything that’s preceded them, what would a championship mean for the Cougars?
“It would be so satisfying,” said Wells. “These girls and my coaching staff have worked so hard, and it would solidify that we put our minds to something like this and achieved it. With that mentality, you can achieve anything, whether it’s in volleyball or life in general. They’ve been phenomenal all year, and they’re showing that hard work does pay off.”
The Cougars are just two wins away from making history, starting with their Friday (7 PM) matchup against Harlan in the State Semifinals.
Could this be the year Cinco goes all the way?