Women's Water Polo opened the 2021 season at home on the first day of their Central Coast Classic. The Cougars opened with a win over Fresno City, 11-6, and closed the day the same way they did the abbreviated 2020-21 season, with a loss to West Valley, 11-3. The Cougars suffered through slow starts in both games. In the opener, the Rams jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the 2nd quarter, but the Cougars came together and scored the next ten goals to cruise to victory, 11-8. 2018 All-WSC First Team Driver Kylee Wesemann (Bountiful, UT) ignited the Cougars' comeback with two goals, three assists, three steals and three fouls drawn, while Freshman Chloe Porter (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) netted three goals to lead all scorers. In the nightcap, the Cougars faced West Valley, who defeated them in the 2020-21 de-facto CCCAA State Championship; since they were the only two teams to complete during the spring season. The Cougars, once again, struggled out of the gate as West Valley owned a 10-goal lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Freshmen Anna Kreowski (Arroyo Grande HS) and Meghan Abbott (Nipomo HS) each scored a goal off a pass from 2019 All-WSC Driver Madi Hermesch (Arroyo Grande HS) to get the Cougars moving, while Porter scored her team-leading 4th goal of the tournament to close out the 11-3 setback. Cuesta split the first day 1-1 overall.
The Cougars' dance card is full for the second day of the Central Coast Classic. Cuesta will play three games on the day. The Poloists play a pair of 2019 CCCAA Playoff teams, Diablo Valley (7 AM) and Merced (3:40), while also squeezing a sandwich game with Ohlone (11:20).
