The 2019 season got off to a rocky start for Taft College as the Cougars fell 3-0 in their season-opener at College of San Mateo on Tuesday.
Taft lost the match by scores of 25-17, 25-18, 25-16 to San Mateo, a team that qualified for the Northern California Regional Playoffs last season. Despite the defeat, head coach Kanoe Bandy had some standout individual efforts.
Sophomore Madison Barcelona will be counted on as a leader this season and she showed it in her first match by posting a team-high six kills.
Sophomore Keala Skeele also had a good match, chipping in with four kills, four digs, and two blocks. Freshman setter Elisia Brown played well in her Cougar debut, leading TC with 12 assists and six digs.
Taft (0-1) will look to bounce back on Friday (Aug. 30), when the Cougars play a pair of matches against two more playoff qualifiers at home. TC faces DeAnza College at 1 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. contest against San Joaquin Delta.