The Lady Bear Cubs look to build on a fifth place finish from last season’s championship run. They lost to fellow Big 8 Conference team Sierra College.

Santa Rosa lost in the fifth set, 15-13. A highlight of the day was 2010 team captain Chelsea McCown finishing with 19 digs.

The Lady Bear Cubs closed out the year with a record of 23-8, a .742 winning percentage, the second best in the powerhouse Big 8 Conference.

The Big 8 Conference sent four teams to the state championship last season. Delta College, Sierra College, SRJC and the Lady Bear Cubs’ rival, Sacramento, all went to state. Sierra finished fourth, SRJC and Sacramento tied for fifth, and Delta College came out seventh.

This year, the Lady Bear Cubs have three homegrown, all league talents in sophomores Chelsea McCown and Sam Surlow, and freshman Sam Siebert.

Siebert was a setter last year at Analy High School and was the Sonoma County League MVP her junior and senior year. Chelsea McCown, also a former Analy Lady Tiger, and Montgomery Lady Viking standout Sam Surlow were both first team all league in 2008.

“Our team has progressed very well this summer,” said head coach Kelly Wood.

There are 13 players on the active roster, including four sophomores and nine freshman, in addition to seven redshirts. When asked about the team’s health and whether they were staying injury free, Wood said, “We’re healthy, other than a few standard aches and pains.”

On Sept. 1, the Lady Bear Cubs open their preseason at home against Napa and DeAnza at 11 a.m. Dates to mark on your calendar include the conference home opener on Oct. 6 against Cosumnes River College of Sacramento and a rematch against Sierra College on Oct. 20 in Rocklin.

The Lady Bear Cubs have a 14-game conference schedule winding down in mid-November and the playoff schedule starting Nov. 23.