SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team fell in straight sets on the road Saturday night to conference rival Cal State Monterey Bay (23-25, 20-25, 29-31). 

The match was about as tightly-contested as a three-set sweep can get, but in the end the Pioneers found themselves on the short end of the final score, dropping their record to 4-18 overall and 2-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

East Bay had success on the attack, hitting .213 for the night, highlighted by a third set in which the team notched 22 kills and a .354 hitting percentage. However, the Otters posted a .280 mark for the match and racked up 51 kills in three frames.

The opening set was back-and-forth the entire way after the Pioneers erased an early 7-2 deficit. The teams were tied at 19-19 near the end, but Monterey Bay won four of the next five points to seal the victory.

The home team jumped out to a 9-3 lead in game two, but once again the Pioneers rallied back. East Bay held a 19-17 lead after Michaela Gardner notched two straight service aces and setter Kylie Fraga went over on two for a crucial point. However, the Otters proceeded to win the next six points and closed out the set on an 8-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The final set was a marathon, as the teams traded the lead back and forth until it was tied at 24-24, forcing extra points. Both squads had multiple chances at set point, it wasn't until 29-29 that the Otter notched two straight kills to put the Pioneers away for good.

Kiki Leuteneker led the way with 11 kills for East Bay, making just one attack error for a .357 hitting percentage. Fellow freshman Kathy McKiernan was also outstanding on the attack, hitting .400 with nine kills to go along with a team-high four total blocks. 

Two nights after an impressive 19-kill performance, Gardner filled up the scoresheet with seven kills, nine digs, three block assists, and a team-best three service aces.

Kiani Rayford also notched seven kills for the Pioneers. Fraga paced the squad with 22 assists, and Veronica Fabiano added 13 to go along with two kills, two digs, and two blocks.

In the back row, senior Angie Maina dug out 12 balls to lead the team. Darlene Lee had eight digs, and Brandi Brucato tallied seven.

Next up, the Pioneers continue their road schedule with trips to Humboldt State on Thursday, Oct. 29 and No. 24 nationally ranked Sonoma State on Halloween night.