Women's Volleyball opened its season on the road with a doubleheader in Monterey on Friday and hosted two more games back home in SLO on Saturday.  The Cougars opened the season against Lassen and pushed the 2023 CCCAA Regional Finalists to five-games.  Cuesta took two of the first three sets, but their fellow Cougars from Lassen rallied to win the last two (14-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-12,15-10) and hand Cuesta the loss.  The marathon setback left Cuesta's Spikers unable to rebound in their tournament finale with Merced as they went down to the Blue Devils in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-18).  The Cougars sought redemption as they returned to San Luis Obispo to host another mini tournament today.  The Cougars hosted West Valley and Taft, which boasts another squad of Cougars that reached the 2023 CCCAA Regional Playoffs.  In the tournament opener, the Cougars and Vikings battled until the final point of the opening set, 25-23, however West Valley prevailed and used the momentum to complete the sweep; 25-23, 25-20, 25-17.  The Vikings kept rolling into their next match against the "other" Cougars.  The Vikings claimed the initial victory, 25-20, but it was all Taft after that, as they closed out the match in four games with three comfortable wins: 25-14, 25-13, 25-16.   Cuesta, after a one-match break, was well rested and ready to close the day against Taft.  The Cougars started slowly and dropped the opener, 25-20 but battled to take control of the match in the second set.  Both sets of Cougars served for the win three times, unfortunately Taft reached the game's seventh set-point first and finally sealed the victory, 28-26.  Taft then closed out the match and the day, 25-14, to seal the victory.  The loss left the Cougars at 0-4 after the season's opening weekend.

The Spikers travel to Lemoore this Friday for the West Hills Challenge.  The event sets Cuesta up with a re-match against Lassen (2 PM) and another 2023 playoff team, Coalinga (4 PM).  Coincidently, the Falcons lost to Lassen in the opening round of the 2023 CCCAA Playoffs in a five-game match in Susanville.