ARCATA, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team suffered a tough road defeat in the final match of the 2016 regular season on Thursday, as Humboldt State erased an 0-2 deficit at Lumberjack Area and came back to beat the Pioneers in five sets (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 18-25, 11-15).

The Jacks out-hit the Pioneers in all five sets and topped them .249 to .159 for the match. The home team also finished with a statistical edge in total kills, assists, blocks, and digs. 

Despite that, East Bay was in position to pull off its second sweep of HSU this season after outlasting them in each of of the first two sets. Games one and two were both tight throughout. In both cases, the Pioneers had to erase a small deficit, and in both cases, they won they key points they needed at the very end.

The third game was also close, but this time Humboldt took care of business down the stretch, finishing the frame on a 6-2 run. The Jacks kept that momentum going and pulled away for an easy win in the fourth set, before posting a .321 attack percentage in game five and outlasting the Pioneers to complete the comeback. 

Deja Thompson had a huge performance in the regular season finale, leading all players in the match with 22 kills and a .432 hitting percentage to go along with three blocks. 

Kiki Leuteneker posted a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs, but she also made 10 attack errors as the team struggled with its offensive efficiency in the final three sets. Fellow sophomore Julie Navarro reached double figures in kills with 12, while Kathy McKiernan added seven kills and a team-high four total blocks.

Both Thompson and Leuteneker surpassed the 300-kill plateau for the season on this night, and both will finish the regular season among the top 10 scorers in the CCAA.

Setter Katie Ireland finished tonight with 48 assists, 14 digs, and three total blocks. In the back row, Brandi Brucato led the way with 19 scoops. Darlene Lee and Cassidy Caton both added 12, and Caton also paced the squad with four service aces.

At 13-13 overall, Cal State East Bay has now completed its first .500 regular season since 2011, and next Thursday, the team will compete in the CCAA Tournament for the first time as members of the conference. 

East Bay's first-round opponent in San Bernardino is still to be determined, however. The Pioneers have clinched a playoff spot with a league record of 9-9 and will either be the No. 3 or 4 seed from the North Division. They'll await results from Stanislaus State, which has a record of 8-8 and will travel south for matches against Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills this weekend. The Warriors own the tie-breaker if both teams finish at 9-9.