Cascade Volleyball Battles Central Before Falling in Five-Set League Opener

Cascade pushed Central to five sets before falling 3-2 in its league opener Thursday night at Cascade High School. The Cougars won the first and third sets, but Central answered each time and prevailed 16-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 15-13.

The start of the match was pushed back roughly an hour after Central's buses did not leave until 4:30 p.m. Once play began, both teams had plenty of support. Central brought a loud student section, while Cascade's students answered from the home stands, creating a spirited atmosphere as the teams traded momentum throughout the night.

Cascade established the early advantage with a 25-16 victory in the opening set. The Cougars' front row produced strong swings, and the team found success with forceful kills and blocks at the net. Central responded by taking the second set 25-17, evening the match and setting up a back-and-forth finish.

The Cougars regained control in the third set, winning 25-17 to move one set from the match victory. Cascade continued to attack aggressively, with its front-row play providing some of the team's strongest moments. Vanessa Ravera, a defensive specialist and outside hitter wearing No. 1, added a memorable defensive play with a pancake save from the back row to keep the ball off the floor.

Central forced a deciding set by surviving the fourth, 27-25. The final two sets were the closest of the match, with the teams trading points and neither side able to create much separation. That pattern continued in the fifth set, where Cascade stayed within striking distance before Central secured the final two-point margin, 15-13.

Despite the loss, the Cougars showed resilience through five sets and received productive work from both the front row and back row. Cascade will next travel to face Newport at 7 p.m. PDT Tuesday, Sept. 29.