HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team will look to halt its losing streak at four this weekend against a pair of tough California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponents. The Pioneers travel south for the second time this season for a Friday night matchup with Cal Poly Pomona, followed by a Saturday night contest against UC San Diego.
WEEKLY RECAPLast week started earlier than usual with a Wednesday match at Cal State Monterey Bay. The Pioneers struggled following the drive down to Seaside, losing in straight sets.
Amber Hall notched 12 kills, and
Veronica Sanchez had a season-high 20 digs, but the team hit just .048 in the loss.
The weekend was not much kinder to Cal State East Bay, despite being back home in Hayward. On Friday, the Pioneers dropped the "Battle of the Bay" to San Francisco State in three sets, evening their season series with the Gators at one win each. The following night, the Pioneers were swept in straight sets by Sonoma State as they struggled to defend All-American and reigning CCAA Player of the Year Caylie Seitz (16 kills, .448 pct.). There was one bright spot on Saturday, however, as senior
Samantha Bruno recorded three total blocks to break the program's all-time career record of 247.
PIONEER POINTSCal State East Bay ranks ninth in the conference in hitting percentage (.181) and points per set (14.7). Since the start of CCAA play, they rank sixth as a team with 1.69 blocks per set.
Ashia Joseph ranks seventh in the CCAA in assists (8.26 per set) and third in service aces (18). She's also got a .308 attack percentage and ranks second on the Pioneers with 118 digs this season.
Hall, a fellow senior, is the sixth-leading scorer in the conference at 3.37 kills per set, and she's third on the Pioneers with 112 digs. Hall recorded double-digit kills in 11 straight matches before snapping her streak last Friday.
Bruno is second on the team with 2.73 kills per set, and
Jovan Turner leads the squad in blocks (33) and attack percentage (.249). All three of those stats rank in the top-20 in the CCAA.
Freshman
Brandi Brucato has been impressive during her rookie season, currently leading the team in total digs (151) and ranking second in aces (16).
Current CCAA StandingsCCAA Statistical LeadersHISTORY WATCHIn addition to becoming Cal State East Bay's all-time record holder with 248 career blocks, Bruno
also leads all active Pioneers with 607 career kills, which places her just outside the program's top-10 all-time.After recording 62 assists last week, Joseph now has 1,458 career assists, which ranks seventh in program history. She needs 341 more this season to move into sixth place.
Sanchez has now recorded 1,183 digs in her East Bay career, which ranks second all-time.
BRONCO BREAKDOWNCal Poly Pomona has lost three of its last four, but the Broncos defeated No. 15 Cal State San Bernardino on the road last Friday. They rank third in the league in blocks (2.40 per set) and service aces (1.42 per set), but they're 10th with a .171 attack percentage. The Broncos are led by outside hitter Deanna Blaire (2.80 kills/set, 3.20 digs/set) and middle blocker Christen Williams (2.14 kills/set, .330 pct., 1.14 blocks/set). The Pioneers are 5-3 against CPP since joining the CCAA in 2010, and they're 3-1 in Pomona's gym.
TRITON TRACKERUC San Diego has appeared in the national top-25 poll for much of the season, and they're currently just outside the rankings, receiving votes at No. 26, after splitting each of their last three weekends. Last week the Tritons topped Humboldt State in five sets before falling at No. 15 Cal State an Bernardino in five. The team has a .197 hitting percentage for the season and ranks fifth in the CCAA in digs per set. They're led by attackers Danielle Dahle (3.17 kills/set, 2.23 digs/set) and Caitlin Brenton (3.13, .278 pct.) and setter Heidi Sierks, who's third in the league at 9.80 assists per set. Cal State East Bay has a 2-6 record against the Tritons as members of the conference, and the Pioneers are 1-3 at RIMAC.
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