HAYWARD, Calif. -- For the third season in a row, the Cal State East Bay volleyball team is headed back to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) postseason. The Pioneers travel out to Turlock this week where Stanislaus State is hosting the annual eight-team tournament, which will determine the CCAA champion as well as the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Tournament. 

As the No. 1 seed from the North Division, East Bay will take on Cal State San Marcos in the first round Thursday afternoon after the Cougars earned the No. 4 seed from the South Division. It will be the second quarterfinal match of the day at Fitzpatrick Arena, scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.

For those unable to make it out the valley, the contest will be streamed live by the Bay Area Online Sports Network, and all are invited to a watch party on campus in the Old University Union Room 102. 

WEEKLY RECAP
The Pioneers closed the regular season on a high note this past week, defeating both Humboldt State and Sonoma State without losing a set. After turning in inconsistent performances on the road for much of the season, East Bay picked up two huge road victories in their last two matches, and will look to carry that momentum into the playoffs. With two more sweeps under their belts, the Pioneers have won by 3-0 scores in 10 of their 15 victories. 

Kiki Leuteneker had a big weekend, leading the team with 14 kills against the Jacks, then scoring nine kills with an impressive .533 hitting percentage against the Seawolves. Fellow senior Deja Thompson was excellent as well, averaging 3.17 kills and 1.17 blocks per set with a .405 attack percentage in the two matches. In the regular season finale, Thompson became just the fourth Pioneer ever to record 1,000 career kills.

KING IN THE NORTH
After CSUEB won both its matches last week and Cal State Monterey Bay split a pair at home, the Pioneers finished the CCAA schedule in a tie with the Otters atop the North Division at 11-7. It marks the third year in a row East Bay has improved its CCAA record. 

On the strength of a 10-2 record against fellow North Division opponents (compared to CSUMB's mark of 7-5), the Pioneers won the tie-breaker over the Otters to claim the program's first CCAA North Division title, as well as the top seed at the tournament.

BEST IN THE WEST
Last week, CSUEB also appeared in the NCAA DII West Region rankings in the No. 10 position for the first time in the CCAA era. Updated rankings will come out Wednesday as a preview of the eight-team West Regional field, which will be announced following the conclusion of conference tournaments. Despite East Bay's unprecedented ranking, it's likely they will need to earn the CCAA's automatic bid by winning the tournament in order to secure a spot in the top eight. 

SUPER SENIORS
In advance of the playoffs, the All-CCAA awards will be announced on Wednesday, and the senior-laden Pioneer squad has a chance to place several student-athletes on the All-Conference team. Leuteneker and Lindsey Ray are both among the top-10 in the CCAA in kills, Thompson ranks ninth in blocks, Katie Ireland is fifth in assists, and Kathy McKiernan is just outside the top-10 in hitting percentage.

If experience provides any tangible advantage in postseason play, the Pioneers have it in spades. All six seniors have competed at the CCAA Tournament before, four of them will be making their third appearance, and three of them are finishing off their fourth season as starters for the Pioneers. As a result of long and impressive careers, several members of this East Bay squad have cemented themselves in the program's history books. Below is a summary of current all-time rankings for the 2018 Pioneers:

Kills
1. Jackie Randolph (2004-08), 1233
2. Kiki Leuteneker (2015-18), 1196
3. Jennifer Cioma (1995-97), 1038
4. Deja Thompson (2015-18), 1006

Hitting Percentage
1. Nicole Brandt-Young (2003-04), .358
2. Ivone Aleman (2001-02), .303
3. Angel Alcorcha (1996-97), .288
4. Kathy McKiernan (2015-18), .284

Assists
1. Katie Ireland (2016-18), 2788
2. Annie Shrieve (1998-99), 2645

Blocks
1. Deja Thompson (2015-18), 307
2. Kathy McKiernan (2015-18), 294
3. Samantha Bruno (2011-14), 257

Digs
1. Lauren Massa (2007-10), 2226
2. Brandi Brucato (2014-17), 1428
3. Veronica Sanchez (2012-14), 1258
4. Jackie Randolph (2004-08), 1122
5. Angie Maina (2012-15), 1090
6. Katie Ireland (2016-18), 1053
7. Roxanne Neely (2007-10), 938
8. Jennifer Cioma (1995-97), 775
9. Kiki Leuteneker (2015-18), 749
10. Nicole Boyle (2011-13), 734

SCOUTING SAN MARCOS
The Cougars finished finished the regular season on a high note, winning four of their last five to secure a postseason berth. The Pioneers are out-hitting them .239 to .192 for the season, but CSUSM defeated East Bay in four sets in the only meeting between the two teams back on Sept. 14 in SoCal. The Cougars have three players averaging at least two kills per set, led by Maddie Newcombe (2.63 kills/set, 2.64 digs/set, 33 aces).