Box Score SEASIDE, Calif. --- Cal State East Bay volleyball's winning streak was halted at four on Tuesday night as the Pioneers fell on the road to Cal State Monterey Bay in four sets (25-22, 15-25, 25-21, 25-23). Four players posted double digit kills for the Pioneers (11-15, 7-11 CCAA), who were out-hit .235 to .228 in the match by Monterey Bay (17-9, 11-7 CCAA). 

The Pioneers actually racked up more team kills (61 to 57) and digs (79 to 72) than their opponents. However, the Otters had a big advantage in blocks, totaling 11 to East Bay's three. Overall, the match was extremely tight, but unlike their last few contests, the Pioneers struggled to close out sets.

Samantha Bruno continued her run of impressive offensive play with 14 kills, seven digs, and a .481 hitting percentage. She's posted double-digit kills in four straight matches and is now hitting .320 for the season to lead the team. Suzy Ni Xu also notched 14 kills for East Bay.

Katie Allen had 11 kills, while fellow outside hitter Amber Hall finished with 10 to go along with her eight digs. Kitona Offord added nine kills for the Pioneers.

Ashia Joseph filled up the scoresheet with 51 assists and 16 digs and also scored a couple of kills. Veronica Sanchez led all players with 23 digs in the match. Fellow defensive specialist Angie Maina scooped out 10 balls, her third time this season reaching double figures. 

After the two teams played an epic, five-set match earlier in the year, they both knew this would be a battle. That was evident from the start, as neither team led by more than four points throughout the first set. it came down to the end, and with the score 20-19 in favor of the Otters, East Bay won three straight points to capture the lead. However, Monterey Bay closed out the game on a 5-0 run, notching four kills and a service ace to claim the three-point victory.

The Pioneers came storming back in the second set and won easily to even the match. They jumped out to an 8-2 advantage behind two kills each from Xu and Hall and never looked back. CSUEB hit .412 and tallied 17 kills and eventually ran away with a ten-point win. 

The visitors couldn't keep that momentum going after intermission, however, as Monterey Bay rode the strong attacking of Jessica Malcolm and Julia Ashen to a 19-12 lead. The Pioneers clawed back and won five out of six points, eventually pulling within two. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as the Otters claimed the final two points and the set.

The fourth set was remarkably tight. Amazingly, neither team ever led by more than two points, and at the end the teams found themselves tied 22-22. After Bruno scored her 14th kill to put East Bay up one, it seemed fitting that such a close match might be destined for five sets. However, the Otters had other plans. Malcolm slammed back-to-back kills to re-take the lead, and Monterey Bay closed out the match when the Pioneers mishandled the pass on the final point.

CSUEB is back in action this weekend with their final two home matches of the season. The Pioneers will be celebrating Senior Night on Saturday, but they'll have to deal with a tough pair of opponents in No. 12 UC San Diego and No. 13 Cal State San Bernardino.