Cuesta Women's Water Polo opens the Central Coast Invitational this weekend.  The Cougars' two-day tournament features nine 2024 playoff teams, including three of the members of the CCCAA State Final Four.  Defending State Champion Long Beach and Runner-up Santa Barbara City shall be joined by NorCal Champion West Valley as they battle it out  with six other teams for the early edge in the chase for the 2025 title.  The host Cougars, who have earned three straight playoff berths under Coach Rachel Shiffrar, open their tournament against playoff teams Modesto (9:10) and Saddleback (1:50) on Friday.  The Cougars shall close the tournament with Golden West (8:10) and Orange Coast (11:40) on Saturday.  Cuesta's roster is boosted by the return of All American Annika Pauschek as well as all-Western State Conference selections Amelia Braun and Ryder Gangemi and a talented squad of newcomers.  

The Cougars opened the season last week at the Marin Tournament and went 3-1 in four games over the weekend.  Cuesta opened with three straight wins, over Mt San Antonio (12-5), Fullerton (14-11) and Cabrillo (13-3), before falling to American River (9-6) in the tournament finale. Cuesta is now 3-2 on the season, after falling to Santa Barbara, 18-6, in today's pre-tournament game.  

Friday, September 5

8 AM  Golden West-Long Beach

9:10   Cuesta-Modesto

10:20  Saddleback-Cabrillo

11:30  Santa Barbara-Orange Coast

12:40  West Valley-Long Beach

1:50   Cuesta-Saddleback

3 PM   Modesto-Golden West

4:10   Cabrillo-Orange Coast

5:20   Santa Barbra-West Valley

Saturday, September 6

7 AM   Long Beach-Orange Coast

8:10   Cuesta-Golden West

9:20   Cabrillo-Modesto

10:30  Long Beach-Saddleback

11:40  Cuesta-Orange Coast

12:50  Cabrillo-Golden West

2 PM   Modesto-Saddleback