HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay volleyball team captured their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory of the 2019 season with 3-1 home win over San Francisco State Saturday night, October 5 inside Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
The Pioneers dominated the "Bay Bridge Battle" from the opening serve as they move to 2-12 overall on the season with a 1-5 mark in league play. CSUEB out-hit SF State .238-.175 for the match and posted more total points (65-58), kills (53-49), blocks (8-4), assists (50-47) and digs (81-64).
 
Head coach Kimberly Lambert was proud of her team's offensive execution and effort.
 
"What a great team effort tonight in trusting our systems of play and executing the game plan," expressed Lambert. "It's a huge accomplishment for this young group to demonstrate that for an entire match."
 
East Bay garnered a first set victory 25-15 as they continued to rally the home crowd with every point. The Pioneers raced out to a 14-5 opening set lead and carried the momentum to a 1-0 advantage. The visiting Gators answered with a strong second set jumping out to an 11-5 lead that they would not relinquish. 
 
In the final two sets, the Pioneers flexed their muscles and scrapped their way to a victory. After back-and-forth scoring in the third set, the Gators held a 11-9 lead. CSUEB would go on a 6-0 run to take a 14-11 advantage that they would not surrender. In the final set, with the Pioneers reeling with effort and emotion, they battled to a 25-21 set win to come away with the home win.
 
"The tempo of our offense tonight was a critical piece to our success," Lambert explained. "The toughness defensively was something we need to continue to build off of."
 
A trio of Pioneers freshmen compiled double doubles in the contest. Kara Green once again led East Bay with 12 kills to go along with 13 digs and 12 total points. Jasmyne Love tallied 11 kills, two blocks and 12 digs with a team-best 14 points. Eliza Cannon added 12 digs, 44 assists, just one shy of her career high, with two kills, three blocks and 4.5 points.
 
Sarah Stevelinck recorded a team-best 25 digs with four assists. Kelly Jing-min Markham finished with 10 kills, four blocks and 12 points.
 
Steena Hubbard and Samantha Zimmerman both tallied nine kills each. Hubbard added three blocks and Zimmerman notched five digs. Natahlee Wilson chipped in nine digs for East Bay.
 
The Pioneers will return to action with a pair of conference road matches against Humboldt State and Sonoma State next week.