SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team was defeated in three sets by 23rd-ranked Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday night in front of a crowd of nearly 400 at Coussoulis Arena.
The Pioneers were out-hit .306 to .087 in dropping their seventh straight contest to fall to 3-15 overall. With the win, the Coyotes stay in the hunt for the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) playoffs at 15-3 and 8-2 in league play.
East Bay showed some fight against a talented CSUSB squad early in the match. The first set was fairly tight, but with the score 10-10, San Bernardino won four straight points. They led the entire way after that, holding the Pioneers' attempts at a rally for a 25-21 win.
The Pioneers had their best performance on the attack in game two, hitting .150 with 12 kills. But they didn't have an answer for the Coyote offense, which produced a .517 hitting percentage in a 25-16 win.
CSUSB closed out the match in the third frame, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and cruising to a 25-17 victory. East Bay's block had more success in the final set, but they posted a negative attack percentage and couldn't scrape together a comeback in one of the toughest venues to win in the West Region.
Kiki Leuteneker finished with eight kills and two service aces to lead the Pioneers.
Michaela Gardner notched six kills, while
Deja Thompson,
Kathy McKiernan, and
Kiani Rayford tallied three apiece.
Veronica Fabiano handled the primary setting duties for the third straight match, totaling 23 assists to go along with two kills, two digs, and two block assists.
In the back row,
Angie Maina finished with 12 digs to add to her CCAA-leading total.
Darlene Lee totaled eight scoops, and
Brandi Brucato added six.
Next up, East Bay returns home this week for a pair of tough CCAA matches at Pioneer Gymnasium. The team hosts first-place defending champion Sonoma State on Friday Oct. 16, followed by Humboldt State on Saturday, Oct. 17.
