SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay women's volleyball played perhaps its best match of the season on Saturday in securing a four-set victory over Fort Lewis to close out the Coyote Classic at Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Four Pioneers reached double figures in kills, as the team set season highs for kills (71) and attack percentage (.251). All four sets were extremely tight, characterized by long rallies, but the Pioneers were able to score the winning points they needed to pick up their second victory of 2015. 
 
FLC made just two attack errors in the opening set, but East Bay hit. 302 and racked up 20 kills. The Pioneers had an 18-13 lead before the Skyhawks rallied to tie it. The score was 21-21, but CSUEB won the final four points, closing it out on an ace by Angie Maina and kills by Deja Thompson and Kiani Rayford. 
 
Game two followed a similar script, as the Pioneers took a 17-12 lead, and the Skyhawks went on a run to even the score. It was tied 24-24, but this time Fort Lewis finished off the set in their favor with two straight points. 
 
Neither squad led by more than three points in the third frame, and once again it came down to the final points. Trailing 21-20, East Bay won four straight points, and then they closed out the 25-23 win to grab a crucial 2-1 advantage in the match on a kill by Kiki Leuteneker.
 
The Pioneers went on a 6-1 run early in game four to take a 12-7 lead, but FLC rallied to win nine of the next 10. For the fourth straight set, it was tight at the finish with the score tied 22-22. East Bay captured the victory on three straight kills by Kathy McKiernan, Michaela Gardner, and Darlene Lee.

"We have a lot to work on, but it's a lot better to travel home after a win," said head coach Jim Spagle. "Kiki and Deja both really stepped up today."
 
Gardner posted season highs with 20 kills and a .341 hitting percentage to lead the Pioneers. Rayford hit .312 with 14 kills, McKiernan hit .318 with 12 kills, and Leuteneker hit .314 with 12 kills and three blocks.
 
Sophomore setter Veronica Fabiano set a career high with 60 assists. She also added three kills and nine digs. 
 
Four Pioneers reached double figures in digs, led by Maina, the senior libero, with 26. She was one of eight players selected to the Coyote Classic All-Tournament team. Lee finished with 12 digs, and sophomores Brandi Brucato and Zoe Smith totaled 19 and 10, respectively. 

CSUEB finishes its non-conference schedule with a record of 2-6. Next up, they open California Collegiate Athleitc Association (CCAA) play on Tuesday, Sept. 15 on the road at Chico State.