VYPE Klein August 2022

Klein cain volleyball

\\ By Ma t t Ma l a t e s t a B A E R E NWA L D T A K E S O V E R C A I N V O L L E Y B A L L YOUTH MOVEMENT

SHE MAY BE YOUNG, BUT NEW KLEIN CAIN VOLLEYBALL SARAH BAERENWALD HAS LEARNED FROM THE BEST. The f irst-year head coach played for the legend Donna Benotti at Cy-Fair. Benotti has over 800 wins in her career and has been a tremendous mentor to Baerenwald. After graduating from Texas A&M, Baerenwald jumped right into coaching. She was hired as an assistant by another legend in Ashley Ahl f inger – who opened Cypress Woods and bui l t a successful vol leybal l brand in Houston. She coached

Klein Cain’s Kelly Pawelka, Jaylynn McNeill, Courtney Carter and MiKaela Kissinger

al l-district hi tter Cour tney Car ter and f irst-team, al l-district l ibero Mikaela Kissinger also return to ease the transi tion. In the middle wi l l be Jaylynn McNei l , so the cupboard is far from bare. “Winning is great . I want to win big,” she said. “For me, this year is about setting the foundation and that ’s al l about effor t . The beaut y of spor ts is that i t also teaches l i fe lessons , l ike how to deal wi th adversi t y and work wi th people of di fferent backgrounds . I want these girls to be the best people they can on and off the cour t . That ’s a take-away that wi l l be wi th them the rest of their l ives .” Spoken l ike a true veteran head coach.

three years for the Wi ldcats and was hired at Klein Cain. “Sarah and I have both had the blessing of playing for Donna Benotti – one of the best leaders I ’ ve ever been around,” Cy Woods coach Ashley Ahl f inger said. “I was for tunate to hire Sarah as my assistant . She is so talented and makes everyone around her a better person. She has a hear t of gold for her players and students . I ’m looking forward to her having great success at Klein Cain, and I bel ieve in her wi th al l my hear t .” Baerenwald takes over a program that went 19-22 overal l; 5-7 in district play that was good enough to make the postseason in 2021 . The Hurricanes fel l

Coach Sarah Baerenwald

going to have to move some puzzle pieces around and f igure out what ’s best for the team. Adjusting very quickly is my anticipation for this season.” The quar terback returns in the district ’s Setter of the Year Kel ly Pawelka, who as just a sophomore. She wi l l be the coach on the cour t . First-team,

in three games to Cypress Ranch in the f irst round of the playoffs . She wi l l have some talented pieces back on the cour t this fal l who could f lourish in Baerenwald’s st yle of play. “Al l that any coach can ask for is to give 100-percent al l the time,” she said. “Sure, we are

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