Senior Class of ’21 Leaves Their Mark on Cypress Creek Volleyball Program

When the core group of nine senior volleyball players walked off the court Monday night at the Merrell Center in Katy, they saw their impressive and often times challenging prep careers as Lady Cougars come to an end.

In the Area Round of the UIL Playoffs, Cy Creek ran into the 6^th ranked 6A team in the state in Seven Lakes, and the outside hitting of Under Armour All American Ally Batenhorst. Not many teams in the greater Houston Metro area have an answer for her talent, and the overall unit that the Spartans run out there. The Cougars battled and fought hard, going out by giving it their best effort as this group has always done. Nothing to be ashamed of – heads held high.

Senior Hitters Kat Betancourt, Maya Bhaidasna, Olivia Black, Charnae Houston & Kiara Thomas; Setters Hannah Hale & Madi Wheeless; and Defensive Specialists Avery Evans-Brooks & Hallie Shepherd all started their prep careers on the Cougars hardwood during Hurricane Harvey. They ended it during a worldwide pandemic. They are Head Coach Reagan Smith’s first group of players that she’s had in her program for all four years, since she took over in 2017.

Smith tweeted after the loss Monday night: “Tonight didn’t go our way, but we find joy and hope in celebrating the legacy that our nine seniors leave behind. Our kids are resilient, tough, hardworking, and a group that will make all of our tomorrows better. I am so proud of our Cougars!”     

Through an entire season of Covid Protocols and mask-wearing practices, Smith and Junior Varsity Coach Laurie Junewick guided the program to overall winning records at both the varsity and JV levels, and a 3-0 Bi-district playoff victory over Lamar. The group stayed disciplined, as they made it onto the court for all of their scheduled games and avoided having to forfeit or re-schedule any of them due to player Covid issues. That is success in and of itself.

Betancourt led the team with a .280 hitting % this season, converting 251 of 289 attack attempts. She added 119 kills and 30 blocks. Wheeless and Hale and were remarkably consistent and steady influencers, each contributing over 400 assists and 160 digs. Thomas led the squad with 379 digs and 44 service aces.

Despite losing so much talent to graduation, the future remains bright for the Lady Cougs. Junior hitters Lindsey Kriendler and Kayla Richardson will return as starters after each compiled huge numbers this year. Kreindler led the team in attacks (823) and kills (320) and had a .265 hitting % while also adding 41 service aces and 22 blocks. Richardson was second with 255 kills and had a .234 hitting %. Junior Joy Shalagan will also return as a setter.

Sophomore Middle Ashanti Butler saw plenty of court time and led the team with 42 blocks, and sophomore Gabby Espiricueta contributed 150 digs as a Libero. The Cougars have several more players in the Class of ’23 that should contribute, including Defensive Specialist Emma Fanucchi, Middle Sofia Grimm, Hitters Mailyn Harris & Cami Stephens, and Setter Grace Krohn. Those players all spent the season playing on the JV but practiced and played with Varsity in the playoffs.   

Look for the Lady Cougars to continue their steady play and winning ways next year, as they battle for a 4^th consecutive playoff berth in District 17-6A. The Core Nine from the Class of ’20 reached that goal each of the last three years, collecting Bi-district post-season victories in 2018 & 2020.