Cuesta Women's Volleyball hits the road this Friday with a quad-meet in Monterey, but also returns home for tri-meet on Saturday. The Cougars open the season in Monterey against Lassen (3 PM), while the host Lobos face Merced. The two coastal teams swap partners for the nightcap with Cuesta's Spikers taking on the Blue Devils (5 PM) as the Lobos close the day with Lassen. The Cougars will take the inland route back to SLO and prepare for two more matches on Saturday. The Spikers open the day against West Valley (11 AM) and take a break as the Vikings stay on the floor to play the sandwich match with Taft (1 PM). The day's play shall close with a "catfight" as the host Cuesta Cougars take on the Taft Cougars in the finale.
The Cougars are led by 2023 All-WSC First Team Outside Hitter Bailey Woodside, but she will be backed by a veteran core and strong group of newcomers. Woodside enjoyed an historic debut with the Cougars in 2023. She finished 7th in the State and set a new Cuesta record for kills in a season with 365. She also landed 50 service aces on the season, which placed her both second on the 2023 team and third all-time at Cuesta. Woodside strengthened the Cougars' rotation and improved the team in every facet of game. Woodside was also second on the team in Digs (276) and 4th in both Blocks (25) and Assists (25). She will also enjoy a second season with Setter Hannah Colletti. Colletti led the Cougars with 449 assists, while also edging Woodside for with a team-high and new school record 54 service aces. Woodside's Beach Partner, Madelyn Freeman also returns to the hardwood after the duo shared all-Western State Conference honors in the Spring. Freeman led the Cougars with 318 digs and last season and shall rotate in as the Cougars' primary Libero this Fall. At the net, Returner Naima Omega brings back 45 Total Blocks, while fellow sophomores Karlee Leary and Alexis Waltz, who were locked in as the Cougars #3 pair in the Spring, are expected to bring a veteran presence to the Cougars' indoor rotation.
Freshman Amelie Lo Jocano did not play on the hardwood last Fall, so she counts as a newcomer, but distinguished herself in the sand by leading the team in victories. She joins freshmen Annika Layton ands Cayley Brown, who shall also join her to provide depth on the outside. in the middle, Freshmen Hanne Porter and Kiera Taylor shall join Omega to make the Cougars' net game a team strength. Porter is undersized at 5-8, but up in Hamilton City she was tabbed as the Mid-Valley League's Most Valuable Player. Taylor starred at nearby Atascadero High and matches the 5-11 Omega as the tallest players on the team. She was the Greyhounds' offensive MVP and was selected to the all-SLO County and all Ocean League teams.
Freshmen Setters Nikki Gill and Rosita Menta are expected to battle for time with Colletti at the center of the Cougars' attack. Gill brings all-League First Team credentials from Cesar E. Chavez High in Delano, while Menta won a CIF Section title for Garces Memorial in Bakersfield. In the backrow Freshman Brynn Bennett will hang with Freeman and should see plenty of floor time, especially with the new "Double-Libero" rule.
