HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team's annual "Dig Pink" Night was a memorable one, as the Pioneers fended off eight match points and pulled out an incredible five-set comeback victory over visiting Sonoma State on Friday evening in front of a large crowd at Pioneer Gymnasium.

For the Seawolves (13-4), it was their first loss in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this season, snapping a seven-game winning streak to open the conference slate. It gives the Pioneers their 10th win of the season and a 4-3 mark in CCAA competition, keeping them in second place behind the Seawolves in the North Division standings.

This marks the first time since 2013 that East Bay has defeated Sonoma State, which captured CCAA regular season championships in both 2014 and 2015. That victory back in October of 2013 was also CSUEB's "Dig Pink" match, an annual nationwide effort to support breast cancer awareness and research.

The Pioneers came back from down 2-1 in tonight's match and stared down match point eight different times in the fifth set, but managed to pull out the victory. They out-hit the Seawolves .174 to .168 overall and took advantage of eight service aces. The upset keeps the Pioneers perfect at home on the season with a record of 6-0.

Head coach Jim Spagle employed a new rotation strategy to counter the top offensive team in the conference, and it payed off as he picked up his 458th career victory. For the first time all season, Spagle didn't substitute right side hitter Tiana Weeks or setter Audrey Lamoureux. Instead he called on freshman Courtnie Ayers and sophomore Natahlee Wilson, allowing the Pioneers to play much of the contest with three defensive specialists on the court. Wilson had only played three sets all season entering the night, but she racked up a career-high 18 digs as East Bay held Sonoma State to one of its least efficient attacking performances of the season. 

It was, however, a tight contest from the outset, as East Bay came to play but had its hands full with SSU's talented hitters. The Pioneers racked up 17 kills in the opening set, but they stumbled just a bit at the end as the Seawolves snuck out a 25-22 win.

The Pioneers returned the favor in the second game to even things up heading into halftime, holding SSU to a .119 hitting percentage in the frame. Deja Thompson was dominant for East Bay in the early part of the match, hitting .769 with 11 kills in the first two sets. She finished with 16 kills and a team-high six total blocks.

The Seawolves came back to win game three, as CSUEB stumbled to a .000 team hitting percentage. The momentum appeared to be with the visitors at that point, but the Pioneers refused to be intimidated in their own gym. Kiki Leuteneker stepped up for the Pioneers with a huge effort in the fourth set, and again in the fifth after East Bay eked out a three-point win to force the deciding game.

Katie Ireland had one of her best matches of the year directing the Pioneer offense. She racked up 52 assists to go along with 18 digs and a team-high three aces. Outside hitter Lindsey Ray notched a double-double as well, totaling 13 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Libero Brandi Brucato led all players with 24 digs in the contest.

It was an impressive night for several CSUEB individuals, but as the fifth set unfolded, it appeared as though the Pioneers would come up short of their upset bid. The teams switched sides with Sonoma leading 8-7, and then the Pioneers tied it, but then Seawolves answered with a 5-1 run. Suddenly it was 14-9 and Sonoma State was one point away from victory. 

Erasing that kind of deficit without allowing a point is very difficult, but it started with a Seawolf service error to make it 14-10. Then Deja Thompson toed the service line, and the Pioneer defense held, and Leuteneker slammed home a kill. 14-11. 

And then another kill for Leuteneker. And then another. At that point, Pioneer Gym had gone from quiet and subdued to loud and raucous in a matters of minutes, and whatever momentum the Seawolves had was gone. Then Kathy McKiernan beat the block for a kill. Tie game.

Sonoma answered with a kill of their own to grab the lead right back and set up another match point. Leuteneker wasn't quite ready for the night to end, however, as she stuffed Kelsey McIntyre for a solo block. 

It was tied once again, but not for long. Another Seawolf kill gave the visitors their seventh chance at match point. Again the Pioneers fended off defeat, as a McKiernan kill made it 16-16. But again Sonoma State got a shot at match point, as East Bay gave them the lead back with a service error.

For the eighth time, the Pioneers extended the match as Ireland set up Ray for a kill to make it 17-17. That put Brucato on the service line, and the southpaw fired an ace to put East Bay ahead. And then with CSUEB's first chance at match point, SSU's setter was called for a violation, which awarded the clinching point to the Pioneers.

Several numbers impressed from this marathon match, but none more so than Leuteneker's attack efficiency. The junior led all players in the match with 20 kills without making a single error. She hit .392 for the night and tallied five total blocks.

The Pioneers will hope to ride the high from this victory into Saturday's showdown with SF State, another important North Division matchup slated for 7 p.m. at Pioneer Gym.