HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball came up short on Thursday afternoon to open the 2015 season, dropping a tight four-set match to visiting Notre Dame de Namur (25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 20-25) in the first contest of the fourth annual Route 92 Showdown. 

The Pioneers came out strong, posting a .417 attack percentage in their first-set victory. Trailing by two midway through the frame, they won seven of the next eight points to take over the lead. The home team then grabbed the early lead in the match by winning five of the final six points. 

The Argonauts rallied and led for the majority of the second frame, but East Bay made a furious late push, winning seven out of nine points to draw within one at 24-23. However, a service error gave the visitors a victory to even the match.

East Bay bounced back in the third set and hit .268, keeping the score tight with NDNU the entire way. The Pioneers were in great position with a 24-22 lead, but the Argos scored three straight points to turn the momentum before squeezing out a 27-25 win. The visitors then held CSUEB to .025 hitting in the fourth set and secured a five-point victory.

"We have a lot of new student-athletes learning a new system of play and how to work together as a team," said head coach Jim Spagle. "It will take some time and patience, along with intense effort and efficient repetition. This is a talented group, but we still have a lot of growing to do as a team, and it will take some time"

East Bay out-hit NDNU .191 to .170 for the match. Both squads recorded exactly 54 kills and 51 assists, and the Pioneers held the advantage in total blocks (15 to 10) and digs (70 to 60). 

Sophomore newcomer Michaela Gardner led the way for the Pioneers with 16 kills and 40 attack attempts. Freshman middle Kathy McKiernan had an impressive start to her collegiate career, racking up 12 kills and a .524 hitting percentage to go along with two blocks. 

Fellow freshmen Deja Thompson (eight kills, four blocks) and Kiki Leuteneker (seven kills, three blocks) both shined at times in their Pioneer debuts. 

Junior transfer Darlene Lee led all players with 20 digs in the match and also recorded eight kills. Senior libero Angie Maina tallied 19 digs and topped the team with three service aces. Sophomore newcomer Kylie Fraga had a solid performance at setter, notching 46 assists and 16 digs to go along with three kills and three blocks. 

The Pioneers are back in action on Friday, Sept. 4 as the Route 92 Showdown continues from Pioneer Gym. East Bay takes on a pair of tough PacWest opponents in California Baptist at 1 p.m. and Dominican at 7 p.m.