Women's Volleyball picked up its first Western State Conference win with a hard fought, five-set victory over Los Angeles Pierce on Wednesday.  The Cougars jumped out to take the first set, 25-18, but the Brahmas battled back, and the two teams swapped a pair of overtime sets, both 26-24, in games two and three.  Pierce rallied, after staving off elimination in Game 3, and grabbed the next set, 25-20, to even the match.  However, the Cougars held strong in front of their home crowd and closed out the match in Game 5, 15-11, for their second straight victory.  Three games ago, the Cougars were mired in an eight-match slide, but they have pounded their way out with a more aggressive attack.  The Cougars have reached the 50-kill marker in each of their last three wins, including 50 last night.  The win over the Brahmas also showcased the team's multiple weapons as three Cougars reached double digits for kills.   Freshman Outside Hitter Katey Cramer landed a game-high 15 kills, while All-WSC Middle Blocker Meredith Donovan and Freshman Taylor Vannest added 12 and 10 kills, respectively.  The trio also combined to contribute in all facets of the game, including eight of Cuesta's 11 service aces.  On defense, they each reached double digits for digs, while also combing for all of the Cougars' total blocks.  It was also an individual milestone night for Donovan, the Cougars' lone sophomore, as she became the 21st Cuesta player to achieve 300 career kills.  Her undiggable dozen against the Brahmas pushed her career total over the tri-century mark and she is now tied with former record holder Cody Menasco (1995, 97) for 18th all-time with 303 career kills.  

The Cougars are now 5-13 overall and 1-3 in the Western State Conference.  They shall conclude their first swing through the WSC Circuit by hosting #4 Ventura this Saturday (6 PM).  The Pirates are one of five teams in the WSC that earned votes in last week's CCCAA Poll and are joined by #16 Moorpark and #17 Santa Barbara in the State's Top 20.  

Career Kills

Rank      Player                        Year                 Kills

1             Julie Coelho               2006-07           577

2             Riley Cooks               2012-13           505

3             Kimberly May             1998-99           500

4             Jessica Hood              2006-07           474

5             Shanna Massman         2001-02           460

6             Tess Gilkey                2010-11           456

7             Ginger Bailey              1998-99           409

8             Amy Woodman           1999-00           392

9             Amy Sperry               1999-00           385

10           Kelly Cole                 2016-17           369

11           Whitney Meyer           2013-14           360

12           Gabby David              2014-15           355

13           Kaylie Griffin              2016, 18          349

14           Kayla Cribbs              2008-09           335

15           Savannah Bohna          2018-19           326

16           Hannah Katches          2016, 18          316

17           Courtney Carroll          2003               308

18           Cody Menasco            1995, 97          303

19           MEREDITH DONOVAN    2021-22           303

20           Mackenzie Sullivan        2009               300

              Maren Cracknell           2015-16           300

*Records Complete from 1995-2022