Wildcats set their sights even higher
By L. SCOTT HAINLINE
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
What Cy Woods has accomplished in only three varsity seasons is beyond impressive, and borders on amazing.
Three consecutive 30-win seasons (30-10, 37-5 and 35-7) have produced an overall mark of 102-22 (.823 winning percentage) and three playoff berths, and after sweeping the district last season (18-0), Cy Woods is an even bigger target.
We've been really blessed to have great athletes," said Cy Woods coach Ashley Ahlfinger, who started the program from scratch prior to the 2006 season.
I also have great coaches on staff (assistants Kelly Onhaizer and Tami Combs) who have been here all four years, and they're a huge part of it."
The Lady Wildcats were good even before they started playing at the varsity level with a junior varsity went 31-0 in 2006 with only freshmen and sophomores.
We've had tremendous backing from the entire school," Ahlfinger said. The administration, teachers and students give us great support, and our campus athletic coordinator and football coach David Jones is at a lot of our games even if it means taking time away from his sport."
Cy Woods reached the region quarterfinals with no seniors in its first season in 2007, and went to region semifinals in 2008, before going undefeated in district and advancing to the area round a year ago.
Senior outside hitter Daniela Arenas and sophomore setter Chloe Collins are two of seven returning lettermen and have been named to the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association's Top 30 preseason team.
Arenas was a first team all-district selection and Collins was the district Newcomer of the Year last season.
The Lady Wildcats also bring back junior middle blocker Sarah Nielsen (first team all-district in 2009), senior hitter-blocker Carla Armstrong (committed to SMU and second team all-district), senior libero-defensive specialist Emily Newstrom, sophomore libero-defensive specialist Victoria Arenas (Daniela's sister and second team all-district) and junior setter-defensive specialist Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood.
Newstrom also stars in lacrosse where she's earned first team All-American honors as a player and student, and Texas Division I all-state and all-star accolades.
She's just a great athlete, as are all of our players, and that makes a big difference," Ahlfinger said. It gives us a lot of options on what we can do."
Following the first week of workouts that begin Monday, Cy Woods scrimmages at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Magnolia, and opens the season by hosting Fort Bend Travis at 6 p.m. on Aug. 10.
The schedule also includes the Cy-Fair Tournament on Aug. 12 and 14, the Spring Branch Tournament on Aug. 19 and 21, and the Pearland Nike Classic from Aug. 26-28.
District 17-5A action starts at 6 p.m. on Aug. 24 at Cy Creek.
There is really a target on every district team because there are so many good coaches in our district," Ahlfinger said.
Cy Ranch will have its first senior class and they'll make a run at the playoffs, and many of the other teams like Jersey Village, Cy Creek and Langham Creek always play us really tough, but you can say that about every team.
It's all up in the air right now."
