HAYWARD, Calif. – Following an opening week that saw it take home the Humboldt State Tournament title, the Cal State East Bay volleyball team is returning to action against CCAA opponents this weekend. The Pioneers (4-0) will kick off the conference slate at home, playing host to Cal State LA on Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, with both matches set for 7 p.m. at Pioneer Gym.

Although 11 of the 15 players who saw action last weekend making their first appearances in the East Bay uniform, the Pioneers quickly came together, sweeping both Academy of Art and St. Martin's to bookend the weekend and coming from behind in a five-set victory over Central Washington and finishing out a four-set win against Notre Dame de Namur. Newcomers Nicole Boyle, top hitter Morgan Hirzel and setter Kristin Neary led the Pioneers, who also got quality performances from Kitona Offord at the net, Leslie Ray and Tatum Bales in the back row and Katie Allen from the service line.

This weekend, Cal State East Bay will look to continue its early success and make an early statement in the CCAA. Last season, the Pioneers opened the conference campaign with four straight victories, helping them start the 2010 season with an 8-0 mark. East Bay will look to open the first season in which it is eligible for the CCAA championship on a high note against the Golden Eagles and Toros this weekend.


FRESH START
Junior outside hitter Nicole Boyle got off to a fast start in her first weekend as a Pioneer, leading the team to four victories. Boyle paced the Pioneers with 57 kills and was third among the starters with a .318 hitting percentage. Boyle was also outstanding on defense, posting 45 digs to finish second on the team and making just one error in 61 serve receptions in the back row. The Chapel Hill, N.C., native was also second on the team in aces with five and helped out at the net with five total blocks.

AMONG THE BEST
Cal State East Bay was one of just five teams in the CCAA to go undefeated in the first weekend of the 2011 season. The Pioneers join Cal State San Bernardino, UC San Diego, Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State Stanislaus with a perfect week to start the campaign. East Bay finished the first week ranked among the league's top four in nearly every offensive category and are tied for first in the conference in blocks with an average of 2.33 per game.

ACE IN THE HOLE
The Pioneers finished the opening weekend ranked third in the conference in service aces, thanks in part to sophomore Katie Allen. The Modesto native was fourth in the CCAA in aces to start the 2011 campaign, posting 11 aces in 15 sets, including six in the four-set victory over Notre Dame de Namur. Allen finished third on the team in aces in 2010.

GAUGING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Cal State LA comes into Friday's matchup with a 3-1 record after a successful weekend at the Nanook Classic in Anchorage, Alaska. The Golden Eagles' only loss came at the hands of No. 17 Western Washington, which topped LA in five sets to open the season. From there Cal State LA swept both Dominican and Western Oregon before topping the host, Alaska Anchorage, in four sets. Natalia Gonzalez and Samantha Potter's 37 kills apiece lead the Golden Eagles, while Marquis Mora is hitting at a .558 clip. Last season, the Pioneers and Golden Eagles split the season series, each earning a home sweep.

TAMING THE TOROS
Cal State Dominguez Hills is in its first season under new Head Coach Jennifer Adeva and enters the weekend with a 1-3 overall mark. The Toros played four matches at the Nanook Classic in Anchorage, Alaska, picking up a season-opening win over Dominican before falling to No. 17 Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage and Western Oregon. Elizabeth Krieger's 45 kills paced Dominguez Hills last week, while Delea Pursel's .333 hitting percentage was tops among the starters. Krieger also led the Toros in digs with 32 and setter Olivia White dished out 120 assists. During the 2010 campaign, the Pioneers picked up a pair of 3-1 victories over Cal State Dominguez Hills to take the season series.