HAYWARD, Calif. -- After getting off to a slow start on Saturday night, the Cal State East Bay volleyball team rallied back for a crucial four-set victory over visiting Cal State Monterey Bay at Pioneer Gymnasium (20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22). 

The Pioneers improve to 12-10 overall, the program's highest win total since 2012. With a mark of 8-6 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, East Bay remains in third place in the North Division as they attempt to qualify for the postseason for the first time as members of the conference.

Both teams were efficient on the attack tonight, as the Otters hit .262 and the Pioneers racked up a .301 hitting percentage. Each set was close, but ultimately the home team finished with advantages in both kills (68-59) and digs (94-82). CSUEB's 94 digs were a season-high for a non-five set match.

The opening set was tight, with the score tied 15-15 as the teams entered the final stretch. The Otter attackers got hot at the right time, as Monterey won seven of the next 10 points and finished the set on a 10-5 run to take a 1-0 lead.

Game two was more of the same, as the teams traded points to a 15-15 score, and then eventually 20-20. But this time, the Pioneers won the critical points to secure a narrow win and even the match. East Bay then kept momentum coming out of intermission. They never trailed in the third set and held off every attempt at an Otter rally for a 25-21 win.

The visitors bounced back in game four, however, refusing to let the Pioneers cruise to a victory. Monterey Bay led most of the way and appeared to be in good position to force a fifth set with a 20-17 advantage. But East Bay put together one more run to put the Otters away for good. They won six straight points behind three kills by Kiki Leuteneker and two by Kathy McMiernan to take the lead, then they finished off the match with a kill by Deja Thompson.

The Pioneers posted attack percentage of .340 and .395 in the last two frames. Leuteneker led all players in the match with 18 kills to go along with 14 digs and a .317 hitting percentage. Thompson hit a remarkable .483, tallying 17 kills on just 29 swings. 

Junior Cassidy Caton had one of her best nights of the year, hitting .276 and matching a season-high with 10 kills. Julie Navarro added nine kills, and McKiernan posted eight kills and a team-best six total blocks.

Setter Katie Ireland racked up 53 assists, her second-highest total of the season and highest in a four-set match. She filled up the scoresheet with 16 digs and notched five kills without an error.

Junior Brandi Brucato and senior Darlene Lee each finished with 24 digs to pace a Pioneer defense that entered the night ranked No. 5 in the nation in digs per set. 

The Pioneers are back in action next weekend for the final two home matches of the season, culminating with "Senior Night" next Saturday vs. Cal State San Bernardino, the No. 18 ranked team in the country.