Wildcats go for stroll in tough Park
By L. SCOTT HAINLINE
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Cy Woods is one of the best in District 17-5A and the area, and College Park is among the top teams in 14-5A, and the respective defending district champs meet in one of the most-anticipated early-season contests.
These two are also among the top teams in the state with Cy Woods No. 3 and College Park ranked 10th in the Texas Girls Coaches Association's Class 5A preseason poll.
ABOUT THE GAME
Matchup: College Park at Cy Woods
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Cy Woods High School
What's at stake: A victory against a highly-rated opponent and positive early-season mojo
Cy Woods players to watch: S Chloe Collins, OH Daniela Arenas, MB Sarah Nielsen, OH-MB Carla Armstrong, DS-L Victoria Arenas, DS-L Emily Newstrom
College Park players to watch: MB Katie Mitchell, OH Taylor Erwin, S Logan Ash, S Michelle Griffith
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
Cy Woods: The Lady Wildcats were 35-7 overall and a perfect 18-0 in 15-5A (now 17-5A) last season, and stopped Cedar Park and fell to The Woodlands in the playoffs ... Cy Woods has won at least 30 games in all three of its varsity seasons going 30-10 in 2007 and 37-5 in 2008 ... Collins and Arenas were named to Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Top 30 team prior to the season, and will be honored at a reception on Aug. 22 at the House of Blues (more information at www.ghvca.com) ... Daniela Arenas and Nielsen were first-team all-district selections in 2009, Collins was the district newcomer of the year as a freshman, and Armstrong and Victoria Arenas made the second team ... Cy Woods was state-ranked behind No. 1 Amarillo and No. 2 Austin Westlake in the season's first TGCA poll ... The Lady Wildcats compete in the Spring Branch Memorial Tournament on Thursday and Saturday, and visit The Woodlands (No. 7 in Texas) at 5:30 p.m. Friday in another big one.
College Park: The Lady Cavaliers were 35-11 overall and swept the 14-5A title with a perfect 14-0 finish in 2009. They defeated Klein and Cy-Fair in the postseason before being eliminated by Round Rock Westwood in the region quarterfinals ... Mitchell, the 2009 district offensive player of the year, totaled 393 kills and 197 digs in a stellar junior season, and first-team all-district pick Erwin had 170 kills and 320 digs ... Griffith, the district setter of the year, handed out 635 assists last season to compliment her 193 digs, and second-team all-district selection Ash dished out 292 assists and added 149 digs ... The Lady Cavs are also at the Spring Branch Memorial Tournament on Thursday and Saturday, and host Alvin at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
