HAYWARD, Calif. — This week the Cal State East Bay volleyball team kicks off its 2013 season with four matches at the Western Oregon Invitational in Monmouth, Ore. The Pioneers play No. 17 Western Washington (24-4 in 2012) in the opener at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday before taking on the host Wolves (21-6 in 2012) at 5 p.m. that evening. CSUEB has another doubleheader slated for Friday, with matches against Metro State (18-11 in 2012) at 10 a.m. and Minnesota State – Mantako (18-11 in 2012) at 5 p.m.

"The competition we face in this tournament is outstanding," said Pioneer head coach Jim Spagle. "Western Washington is nationally ranked, and they're loaded. Western Oregon has exceptional talent returning from a team that ranked high in the region all last year. Both Metro State and Minnesota State received votes in the national rankings, and Metro has a dynamic core returning from last year when they thumped a couple of the top CCAA teams."

TOP RETURNERS
The 2013 Pioneers are an experienced squad, featuring 12 upperclassmen, five seniors, and five returning starters from last year. Opposite side hitter Suzy Ni Xu, a native of Da Lian Liao, China, was the team's top attacker in 2012, averaging 3.13 kills per set. She was named Newcomer of the Year for the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and was also a first-team All-CCAA selection.

Junior libero Veronica Sanchez had a breakout sophomore season in 2012 and will look to anchor the Pioneers' back line defense this year. The Selah, Wash. native led the CCAA with 5.07 digs per set in conference play.

Senior outside hitter Hannah Bell was one of two East Bay players to start every match last season. She ranked third on the squad with 1.97 kills and 2.73 digs per set. The Pioneers also return a pair of starting middle blockers in senior Brittany Dominguez and junior Samantha Bruno. Bruno was second on the team in hitting percentage in 2012, and her team-best 86 total blocks ranked her in the CCAA's top-10.

TURNING THE TABLES
Despite a few isolated high points, 2012 was a frustrating year for East Bay. The team finished at 12-17 with a 7-15 mark in conference play and dealt with injuries to key players from the first weekend of the season. Senior Kitona Offord and junior Katie Allen, the Pioneers' top two leading scorers from 2011, both missed the entire 2012 season and are expected to be back in the lineup this year. After posting winning seasons under Spagle for 15 out of 16 years prior to last season, CSUEB will hope a rejuvenated roster vaults them into contention in the tough CCAA.

PROMISING RECRUITS
The Pioneers' recruiting class is led by junior setter Ashia Joseph, who helped the College of Southern Idaho to a Junior College National Championship last season. Junior Amber Hall and sophomore Destinee Beavers, both transfers, will figure to compete for playing time at outside hitter. Junior Gabriella Luciani brings the Pioneers depth at middle blocker, and junior Alyssa Tarrant will likely play a role as a setter and defensive specialist.

Coach Spagle also added a talented crop of freshman that includes liberos Courtney Owyang and Julia Erickson, setter Aimee Kyed, middle blocker Jovan Turner, and outside hitter Marina Aragao.

"This tournament will be a great opportunity to see how we fare against top teams both regionally and nationally," added Spagle. "We are still as work in progress, but I have enjoyed watching our team improve on a daily basis for the past two weeks. We are all excited and looking forward to this early-season challenge."