SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team is postseason bound for the first time as members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) after defeating Cal State Monterey Bay on the road in straight sets Tuesday night (25-13, 25-20, 25-14).

The Pioneers posted a season-high .323 attack percentage in perhaps their most dominant victory of the year. The win improves CSUEB's record to 13-12 overall and 9-8 in CCAA play, meaning the team will finish the regular season with at least a .500 record for the first time since 2011.  

"We played exceptionally well in all facets tonight," said head coach Jim Spagle. "Our serving put tremendous pressure on Monterey, and our defense at the net and in the back row was stellar."

East Bay pulled away early in the first set to grab a lead in the match, racking up 17 kills and hitting an impressive .441. The Otters put up more of a fight in game two, but with the score 19-18, the Pioneers went on a 5-0 run to clinch the set. 

CSUEB completed the sweep by jumping out to a 6-1 lead in game three and never looking back. They didn't allow a single rally by the home team, holding the Otters to a -.053 attack percentage in the frame.

Monterey Bay had no answer for sophomore Kiki Leuteneker on the attack. She hit .367 and finished with a match-high 14 kills. In the middle, Kathy McKiernan posted seven kills and a .538 attack percentage, while Deja Thompson hit .308 with six kills.

In the back row, Brandi Brucato led the way with 15 digs. Darlene Lee tallied eight, an Cassidy Caton added six.

Setter Katie Ireland had one of her best matches of the season, facilitating a great offense and falling just two kills short of a rare triple-double. The sophomore notched eight kills to go along with 28 assists and 10 digs. 

"Katie ran a very efficient offense and played with great confidence," Spagle noted. "I'm very proud of the entire team. They played together, and they played for one another. It was a lot of fun to watch from the sideline."

Under the new expanded postseason format in 2016, the top four teams in each Division qualify for the CCAA Tournament. The Pioneers eliminated Humboldt State tonight to clinch one of the top four spots in the North, although it remains to be seen whether they end up with the No. 3 or 4 seed. They visit HSU on Thursday in the regular season finale, and they'll watch the scoreboard as Stanislaus State (8-8 in CCAA) travels to Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills this weekend.

It has already been a tremendous Fall season at Cal State East Bay, with the both cross country teams posting their highest ever finishes at CCAA Championships, and the men's soccer squad achieving its highest season win total as members of the conference. And now volleyball has followed suit. Led by a core of sophomores who took their lumps in 2015 while gaining valuable experience, the Pioneers have taken a substantial leap forward this season. The future is bright, but the present is tremendously exciting, as East Bay will travel to San Bernardino next week for its first ever CCAA Tournament match.