TURLOCK, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team closed out its road schedule on Tuesday night with a three-set loss at Stanislaus State (14-25, 23-25, 19-25).
The Warriors improve to 15-9 overall and an even 9-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, putting them in position for the postseason. The Pioneers drop to 5-22 with a 3-16 mark in league play.
Neither team was particularly efficient on the night, as Stanislaus topped the Pioneers in hitting percentage, .195 to .140. The home team also had an edge in kills (40 to 31) and service aces (5 to 2).
The Warriors ran away with the first set, finishing on a 14-4 run and holding the Pioneers to just eight kills in the frame. But East Bay bounced back in game two, nearly evening the match at Fitzpatrick Arena. They erased a six-point deficit midway through the set and came within one of forcing extra points, but Jocelyn Cervantes of Stanislaus scored a kill to secure the 25-23 win.
Trailing 2-0, the Pioneers kept fighting to avoid the sweep. The third game was back-and-forth in the early going, and midway through the frame the score was tied 16-16. But the Warriors went on a run when they needed it, winning seven of the next eight points to pull away at the end.
Sophomore
Kiani Rayford had a big night for the Pioneers for the second straight contest, leading the lead with 10 kills. She also finished with three block assists, six digs, and a .381 attack percentage.
Freshman southpaw
Julie Navarro hit a team-best .482, notching six kills without an error on the right side.
Michaela Gardner hot .313 with five kills for East Bay, and
Deja Thompson added six kills in the middle.
The Pioneers racked up 61 digs, led by senior
Angie Maina with 16.
Brandi Brucato also reached double figures with 11, and
Darlene Lee posted 10.
Setter
Veronica Fabiano tallied five kills to go along with 29 assists, which led all players in the match.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Pioneers play their season finale at home against Cal State San Marcos. Prior to the match, there will be a brief ceremony to honor the career of
Angie Maina, CSUEB's lone 2015 senior.
