HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team closed out the 2015 regular season on Thursday night with a satisfying four-set victory over Cal State San Marcos in Pioneer Gym (24-26, 25-18, 25-16, 25-22). 

On an evening that began with a "Senior Night" ceremony to honor East Bay's lone 2015 senior, Angie Maina, the Pioneers turned in one of their best performances on both sides of the net to finish the season on a high note. 

After dropping a tight first set in extra points, the home team took control for the remainder of the match. The Pioneers ended up out-hitting San Marcos .236 to .143 overall. They also bested the visitors in kills (63 to 52), assists (61 to 48), and digs (101 to 86). The team had three players reach double figures in kills and four post double-digit digs.

East Bay grabbed the momentum midway through the second set, breaking a 14-14 tie by going on an 8-2 run behind impressive attacking by Michaela Gardner. After evening the match 1-1, the Pioneers ran away with the third set as the Cougars struggled to find an answer for freshmen Kiki Leuteneker and Kathy McKiernan.

The home team closed out the victory by outlasting San Marcos in a tight fourth set, sealing the match on Leuteneker's 21st kill of the night. The rookie from Hawaii finished off a stellar freshman campaign with a season high in kills. She also tallied 11 digs for her fifth double-double. 

McKiernan was tremendously efficient, posting 12 kills and leading the team with a .455 attack percentage. Gardner also reached double figures for the eighth time this season with 14 kills. Kiani Rayford was effective moving over to the middle and notched seven kills for the Pioneers.

East Bay also got stellar back line play, led by Maina in her final career match. She racked up 24 digs, topping 20 for the 15th time this year and finishing the season with 574 digs, which leads the CCAA. A four-year Pioneer, Maina ends her career ranked fourth in school history with 1,090 career digs. 

"Tonight was our best defensive effort of the yea,"said head coach Jim Spagle. "Angie, Brandi, and Darlene were sensational in the back row, and both Kiki and Kathy were dynamic in the front. Kiani also gave us a nice effort off the bench."

Junior Darlene Lee paced the squad with 31 digs, her highest total since setting the program record with 43 on Oct. 2. Sophomore Brandi Brucato was also outstanding, notching a season high with 20 scoops. This was the first time in 2015 that the Pioneers have had three players eclipse the 20-dig mark.

Sophomore setter Veronica Fabiano was impressive facilitating East Bay's offense. She posted eight digs and tallied 58 assists, which was just shy of her season high.

"Veronica set a dynamic offense," Spagle added. "She wisely and accurately got the ball to our hot hitters. Tonight was a very strong effort by everyone on the court."

With the victory, the Pioneers move ahead of the Cougars in the standings and finish the season at 6-22 overall with a 4-16 record in the CCAA. All-Conference honorees will be announced next week during the CCAA Tournament banquet.