HAYWARD, Calif. -- After splitting a pair of matches on the road last, the Cal State East Bay volleyball team returns to Hayward this weekend to put its perfect home record on the line with California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matches Friday against Cal State L.A. and Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

This will be just the second weekend this season that the Pioneers have battled South Division opponents. The Pioneers have an impressive 6-2 record against their own North Division, but have dropped their only two matches against the South (on the road at Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona).

The Golden Eagles and Toros currently occupy the last two spots in the South standings, but with identical conference records of 4-5, both squads are still very much alive in a tight race for the CCAA postseason. 

Meanwhile, East Bay suffered a tough defeat in straight sets at the hand of Chico State last Friday night. The Pioneers then fell behind 0-2 the following night against Stanislaus State, before rallying back to win three straight sets and steal a victory from the Warriors. That comeback improved CSUEB's conference record to 6-4, keeping them ahead of the Wildcats (5-6) and Cal State Monterey Bay (5-5) in the North standings. 

East Bay's victory over Stanislaus was the team's 13th overall for the season, which matches its total from the entire 2016 season. Last year's squad finished 13-14, falling to top-seeded CSUSB in the first round of the CCAA Tournament after qualifying for the first time in program history. The Pioneers' sights are higher this year, as they look to eclipse their 2016 win total and put themselves in position for a higher seed at the 2017 tournament.

Last Saturday in Turlock was East Bay's 10th five-set match of the season, meaning they have played five frames in more than half their matches. As a result, the Pioneers lead the entire West Region in total sets played. The team has been outstanding during those shortened fifth sets, posting an 8-2 record in such matches. 

Statistically, the Pioneers have impressive this season on both sides of the net. They have a .205 team hitting percentage, one of just four CCAA schools hitting over .200 at this point. The Pioneers also allow the fewest aces and the second-fewest blocks by their opponents of any squad in the league. 

Individually, Deja Thompson has another stellar performance last weekend. She led the team in kills in both matches, hitting .305 and adding six total blocks. The junior is CSUEB's leading scorer this year and ranks eighth among CCAA players in total points per set. 

Not to be outdone, Lindsey Ray leads the entire CCAA with 34 service aces, averaging 0.42 per set. Kathy McKiernan ranks second among all attackers in the conference with a .366 hitting percentage.

Senior Brandi Brucato tallied 24 more digs this past weekend, putting her at 1,222 for her career, which just 37 digs shy of passing Veronica Sanchez for No. 2 in program history. Junior Katie Ireland is closing in on 1,500 career assists and recently moved up into eighth place on the all-time list. 

Cal State L.A. has been extremely streaky this season, losing their last five contests after rattling off a six-match winning streak. The Golden Eagles are hitting just .175vas a team, but they're led by perhaps the best offensive player in the CCAA in Puerto Rico native Karla Santos (3.93 kills/set, 3.03 digs/set). 

Led by outside hitter Tati Yandall (2.72 kills/set, 2.64 digs/set) and middle blocker Claire Autry (2.51 kills/set, 0.69 blocks/set), Cal State Dominguez Hills has recent victories over Cal Poly Pomona and CSULA, but they're just 2-5 on the road this season.