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East Bay continues its season-opening homestand this weekend with its first two CCAA matches.

East Bay Hosts #8 CSUSB to Open CCAA Play

9/10/2014 3:31:00 PM

By: Steve Connolly, Sports Information Director
Cal State East Bay (3-2, 0-0 CCAA) vs. #8 Cal State San Bernardino (3-1, 0-0 CCAA)
Friday, Sept. 12  •  7 p.m.
Pioneer Gymnasium  •  Hayward, Calif.
Live Stats • Tickets

Cal State East Bay vs. Humboldt State (3-1, 0-0 CCAA)
Saturday, Sept. 13
Pioneer Gymnasium  •  Hayward, Calif.
Live Video • Live Stats • Tickets

HAYWARD, Calif. -- After rattling off five non-conference matches in a span of 55 hours last week, the Cal State East Bay volleyball is set to open its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule this weekend at home. On Friday, the Pioneers host defending conference champion Cal State San Bernardino, curently ranked No. 8 in the nation. The following night, when they welcome in Humboldt State, the match will feature a live video broadcast at pioneerwebtv.com.

WEEKLY RECAP
East Bay began the season with a one-sided victory over visiting Notre Dame de Namur last Thursday afternoon. Then on Friday and Saturday, they co-hosted the third annual Route 92 Showdown and played two matches each day. 

The first day of the tournament was a frustrating one for the Pioneers, as they dropped a five-set heartbreaker to California Baptist in the morning, and then got swept in three sets by Academy of Art in the evening. Samantha Bruno led the team with 15 kills in each match, while Ashia Joseph racked up a total of 57 assists, eight kills, and 29 digs in the doubleheader.

The squad's fortunes were improved on Saturday as they picked up a pair of victories to even their tournament record to 2-2. CSUEB erased Holy Names in three sets to start the day, and then they outlasted SF State in a five-set thriller to close out the evening. Amber Hall paced the Pioneers with 28 total kills on the day and a .310 attack percentage as the primary outside hitter. 

With their 2-2 record this year, CSUEB is now 9-3 all-time at the Route 92 Showdown.

PIONEER POINTS
Heading into the start of conference play, the Pioneers are fifth in the conference in hitting percentage and sixth in kills per set. They're out-hitting their opponents .223 to .159 over the first five matches, all of which were at home. 

Hall is the ninth-highest scorer in the CCAA through the end of tournament play, averaging 3.28 kills per set with a .240 attack percentage. Bruno is just behind her, averaging 3.11 kills per set and hitting .225.

Joseph did it all for the Pioneers in the first week. The senior setter currently leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference in assists per set (8.19), and she's second on the squad in digs per set (3.00). Freshman setter Veronica Fabiano appeared in four of the first five matches and turned in solid performances, averaging 5.40 assists per set. 

Fellow freshman Brandi Brucato had an impressive start to her collegiate career, posting a team-high 4.00 digs per set. East Bay also got outstanding efforts from its freshman middles. Micah Hammond has the fifth-highest attack percentage in the CCAA at .333, and Jovan Turner has a team-best 14 total blocks. 

RECORD WATCH
Veronica Sanchez has recorded 40 digs in the young season, which moves her into second place on the Pioneers' all-time career list. The senior is up to 1,140 total scoops.

Joseph ranks ninth in program history with 1,201 career assists and needs just 51 more to move into eighth pace. 

Bruno leads all active players with 527 career kills, which ranks her just outside the program's top-10 all-time. She also has 229 career blocks, second-most in school history and just 18 away from the program record. 

SCOUTING CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO
The Coyotes lost just one CCAA match last season en route to a regular season championship, and they're ranked No. 8 in the nation to start 2014. San Bernardino has two of the top middles in the NCAA in Brenna McIntosh (2.75 kills/set, .415 pct.) and Tori May (3.00 kills/set, .392 pct.), along with an outstanding outside hitter in Alexandra Torline (3.31 kills/set, 2.12 digs/set). Through one week of play, senior libero Arielle McCullough leads the CCAA in digs (5.25 per set), and sophomore setter Hannah Liserra leads the conference in assists (11.0 per set). The Pioneers have been swept in three straight matches by CSUSB since they beat the Coyotes, 3-2, in San Bernardino in 2013. 

OUTLOOK ON HUMBOLDT STATE
The Jacks had an impressive performance over the weekend at the Route 92 Showdown, posting a 3-1 record with wins over Academy of Art, California Baptist, and Notre Dame de Namur. They currently rank third in the CCAA in scoring, second in hitting percentage (.228), and first in service aces. Outside hitter Ashley Owen was named CCAA Player of the Week after averaging 3.59 kills per set with a .276 percentage. The Pioneers have beaten HSU seven times in eight matches since joining the CCAA in 2010. 

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