HAYWARD, Calif., -- The No. 22 ranked Cal State East Bay Swim team will be back in action this weekend with a quad meet against UC Davis, UC San Diego and conference rival Pepperdine at Schaal Aquatics Center on the campus of UC Davis.
 
The Pioneers have been really impressive to start the season coming off back-to-back team victories in the Slug Shootout and Bay Area Invitational last weekend. Head coach Shane Pelton feels his team's has embraced all of their early season challenges and rose to the occasion each time.
 
"Our team has been training extremely well," said Pelton. "But I think a lot of success is due to their consistency in their training. We have been asking a lot of them day in and day out, whether it be in the weight room, dry land, or the pool. They have embraced what we have been doing and continually rising to the challenges that our coaching staff throws at them.
 
Senior Victoria Zukeran has been one of the brightest spots for the Pioneers this season as she has notched at least one individual victory in every meet this season. Last weekend Victoria Zukeran racked up first place victories in the 100 Free and 200 Medley Relay and a second place finish in the 200 IM while garnering fifth place in the 100 Breast at the Slug Shootout. During the Bay Area Invitational, Zukeran notched a first place victories in the 100 & 200 Fly as well as the 200 Free Relay. She also placed second in the 400 Medley Relay while notching fourth in the 100 Back and 10th in the 50 Free.
 
"Victoria Zukeran has really stepped up and has been contributing greatly from a racing standpoint," explain Pelton. "She has focused on a few details in her races that have really upped her swimming to the next level. I think as we continue to race, we will see more and more of our women rising in these big meets."
 
Including this weekend, the Pioneer schedule has increased in terms of difficulty. But that does not discourage East Bay, it inspires them. The Pioneers are focused getting better every day and finding the small improvements in every meet.
 
"Our goal for the weekend is simple, continue to get better," expressed Pelton. "Every dual meet is opportunity to race hard and get better. It's not necessarily always with time improvement. but focus on the little things, the details, that are going to better prepare you for the big meets."
 
PIONEER POINTS
 

• Junior Serene Augustain was named Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference (PCSC) Athlete of the Week for Division II (Oct 7-13).
• Augustain currently has the 6th best time in the 100 Free (54.37) and 7th best in the conference in the 200 IM (2:13.26).
• Senior Victoria Zukeran's time of 57.89 ranks 20th in the nation and 1st in the PCSC in the 100 fly and her time of 2:11.31 in 200 fly is 30th in the country and 2nd in the league. Also her 200 IM time of 2:14.20 is 6th best in the conference.
• Freshman Tori Padilla is 7th in the PCSC in the 50 Breast with a time of 32.55 and is currently sitting 6th in the conference in the 100 Breast event at a time of 1:08.85.
• All-American Allie Klinger's time of 24.95 in the 50 free is 6th best in the league.
• Alondra Ortiz's time of 2:12.46 ranks 6th in the conference in the 200 Back.
• Junior Landry Walker ranked 9th in the PCSC with a time of 11:01.02 in the 1000 Free.
• Freshman Leah Robinson two spots behind Walker in 11th place in the league in the 1000 Free with a time of 11:04.09.
• Junior Peyton Wayment with a time of 10:48.39 is currently ranked 4th in the PCSC in the 1000 Free.
• Sophomore Isabel Rishwain's time of 1:58.07 ranking 7th in the league in the 200 Free.
• Freshman Morgan Frank's time of 1:58.21 in the 200 Free is good for 8th best in the conference.
• Sophomore Rebecca Bay is currently 12th in the PCSC in the 200 Breast with a time of 2:33.11.