Cuesta Women's Volleyball hopes to be back at full strength this week after facing two Top 20 teams shorthanded.  The Spikers have only one Western State Conference match on the schedule this week and winless Pierce and a bye is just what the doctor ordered to get the Cougars back to full force. The Cougars host the Brahmas on Wednesday (7 PM) and have a scheduled bye on Friday.  Currently, three of the six teams in the WSC are ranked in the State's Top 20, including a pair in the Top 10, while the Cougars are just outside at 27th in last week's poll.  A win this week and the return of their full squad will provide the Cougars with the tools to push the rest of the WSC and earn a spot in the rankings.  

The Cougars entered last week on a five-match winning streak and knocking on the door of the State's Top 25 but missed opportunities to move up against both #8 Santa Barbara and #20 Ventura.  The Cougars' streak was snapped at home in their Western State Conference opener in a sweep by Santa Barbara on Wednesday and they were unable to overcome a slow start in Ventura on Friday.  The Pirates won the first set convincingly, 25-14, but had to hold off the Cougars to win the second, 25-21.  Cuesta kept pushing and took the third set, 28-26, however the Bucs rallied to close out the Cougars in the 4th set, 25-19.  Cuesta is 8-5 on the season and 0-2 in WSC play.