Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team fell in straight sets to visiting San Francisco State (21-25, 23-25, 15-25) in the annual "Battle of the Bay" at Pioneer Gym on Friday night. The Pioneers (5-8, 2-6 CCAA) and Gators (6-7, 4-4 CCAA) even their season series at one apiece, with the rubber match to come later in the season in San Francisco.

After playing a five-set thriller in the season's final non-conference match at the Route 92 Showdown, the Pioneers and Gators continued their back-and-forth play in the game one tonight. SF State out-hit East Bay .289 to .086 in the frame, but the Pioneers were able to take advantage of some serve-receive mistakes by the Gators, and the squads found themselves even at 21-21. From there, the visitors took control and notched three kills and a block to close out the win.

Game two was just as tight, with neither team holding a lead of more than three in the early going. After trading points throughout, the squads were tied up 23-23. The Pioneers once again had a chance to close, but the Gators recorded a block and a kill to take the final two points and a 2-0 lead in the match. 

SFSU carried their momentum through the intermission and put the Pioneers away in the third set. The Gators grabbed a 9-3 lead early and extended it to 17-10 to force an East Bay timeout. The Pioneers made a late rally, but it wasnt quite enough at SF State finished off the 10-point win to complete the sweep.

The Pioneers hit .101 for the match, compared to .252 for the Gators. The visitors also bested East Bay in total kills (41 to 33), digs (45 to 38), blocks (10 to 5), and assists (39-31). 

Senior Samantha Bruno led the way offensively for CSUEB with 10 kills, and freshman Kiani Rayford added six. Junior Angie Maina paced the squad with 10 digs, wearing the libero uniform for the last two sets. 

Senior Ashia Joseph finished with 15 assists, six digs, and three kills. Freshman Veronica Fabiano handled the setting duties for about half the match, and she posted 14 assists along with five digs.

In the middle, Jovan Turner tallied four kills and three blocks, while fellow freshman Micah Hammond had four kills with a pair of blocks.

Up next, the Pioneers are right back in action at home on Saturday night. They host Sonoma State for a 7 p.m. contest on "Dig for the Cure" night in support of breast cancer research.  

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