Friday, Nov. 16 vs. UC San Diego (19-9, 14-6 CCAA)
Pioneer Gym
7 p.m.
Live Stats 

“Senior Night”
Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (20-8, 17-3 CCAA)
Pioneer Gym
7 p.m.
Live Stats

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay volleyball team closes out its season this week against two tough CCAA opponents. With a chance to play spoiler, the Pioneers (11-16, 6-14 CCAA) welcome in two of the top teams in the conference standings. East Bay hosts UC San Diego on Friday night, then Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday night. The Pioneers will look to complete a season sweep of the Coyotes, having already handed them one of their three conference defeats on the road earlier this season. Saturday's match, the season finale, will also be Senior Night at Pioneer Gym.

TUESDAY RECAP

Cal State East Bay is coming off one of its more impressive wins of the season Tuesday night, highlighted by a dominant performance from junior Suzy Ni Xu. The opposite side hitter racked up a career-high 28 kills and hit .522, leading the Pioneers to a four-set victory over Cal State Monterey Bay. She bumped up her team-leading kill average to 3.17 and has crept into the top-10 in the CCAA in hitting percentage and total points.

Libero Veronica Sanchez also had a superlative night, tallying 30 digs, the fourth time she has reached that mark this season (and the first time in a four-set match). That brought her conference-leading dig average up to 5.07, and she stands as the only CCAA player to dig out more than five balls a set.

Senior Nikki Long had a big game, as well, with a season-high 12 kills. Long has really come on strong late in the season, as her four best matches in terms of total kills have come in the past three weeks. For the fourth consecutive match, setters Danielle Stewart and Samantha Siebert each notched double-doubles with assists and digs.

CELEBRATING THE SENIORS

Saturday night, Cal State East Bay will honor the four seniors on this year's team and their families prior to the match. Long, Nicole Boyle, Jade Sanford, and Danielle Stewart will be playing in Pioneer Gym for the last time, and all four have made huge contributions to the program. Boyle and Sanford have served as team captains this year, and all four seniors have played crucial roles, both as team leaders and as regular rotation members on the court. Fans are encouraged to show up early, as the ceremony will begin approximately 10 minutes prior to the first serve.

TRACKING THE TRITONS

This is a big weekend for UC San Diego, which rolls into Hayward tied for second place in the CCAA with two other teams at 14-6. Despite ranking in the conference's top-3 in kills, hitting percentage, assists, blocks, and points, the Tritons have lost three of their last four, including a sweep at home last weekend at the hands of SF State and Sonoma State. UCSD needs a win, and the Pioneers have a chance to play spoiler after losing to the Tritons in four sets on the road earlier this year. To do so, they'll have to deal with Danielle Dahle and Sophie Rose, the CCAA's third and sixth leading scorers, respectively. Middle blocker Sara McCutchan is also a force, averaging 2.64 kills, hitting .327, and ranking third in the conference in blocks.

SCOUTING SAN BERNARDINO

The Pioneers will finish off their season by hosting the Coyotes, the team against which East Bay earned its signature win of the 2012 season. With a 3-2 victory under their belts, the Pioneers are one of just two teams to win at Cal State San Bernardino this year. The Coyotes have already locked up the CCAA's top seed with a 17-3 record, but with a win on Senior Night the Pioneers can become the first team in six years to defeat CSUSB twice in one season. The Coyotes are currently ranked No. 3 in the West Region and lead the conference in blocking average. They have four players averaging better than two kills per set, led by Alexandra Torline. But the Coyotes' real strength is defending the net. Mercedes Winchester and Brenna McIntosh both sit in the CCAA's top-10 in block average and both hit over .340, ranking first and third in hitting percentage, respectively.