LOS ANGELES – The Cal State East Bay women's volleyball team recorded their first victory of the 2019 season as they split their doubleheader on the opening day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase hosted by Cal State L.A.
 
East Bay fell to Central Washington in the to open the tournament before bouncing back to defeat Alaska-Fairbanks in their doubleheader finale. Both games ended in straight set for CSUEB.
 
In the opening game of the tournament, the Pioneers faced one of the tougher teams in the West Region. East Bay jumped out to an early lead in the opening set but it would be all Central Washington after that. After falling in the first set 25-19, the Pioneers would not score more than 15 points in the next two sets dropping them 25-13 and 25-15.
 
The Wildcats out-hit the Pioneers .287 to .079 while racking up 45 kills and 40 assists to just 26 kills and 22 assists from CSUEB.
 
The freshman duo of Kara Green and Jasmyne Love each paced the Pioneers with eight kills each. Green compiled two digs and nine points while Love added five digs, a block and 9.5 points. Steena Hubbard finished with five kills, three digs and 7.5 points.
 
Sarah Stevelinck led East Bay with seven digs. Natahlee Wilson added six digs in the contest. Eliza Cannon compiled 14 assists and Audrey Lamoureux chipped in seven assists.
 
The Pioneers were extremely impressive in their second match of the day, as they mustered some resilience en route to their first win of the season. Each set win was tight for East Bay as they won each set by three or fewer points.
 
CSUEB dominated the early portion of the first set taking a 15-9 lead at the midway point. The Nanooks would rally back close the Pioneer lead to 20-18. But as they would do the entire match East Bay found a way to close out to set to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The second set went a bit differently as the Pioneers found themselves trailing the Nanooks 16-11. But East Bay closed the set on a 8-2 run to pick up the second set point. Alaska-Fairbanks would put forth a great effort in the final set but ultimately East Bay took the set 26-24 to pull off the sweep.
 
Kara Green turned in yet another strong performance leading the Pioneers with 12 kills to go along with her 12 total points. Fellow freshman Eliza Cannon paced East Bay with 29 assists while adding four kills and 6.5 points.
 
Sarah Stevelinck compiled a team-best 15 digs with a kill as well. Tiana Weeks compiled seven kills, five digs a block and 8.5 points. Jasmyne Love tallied five kills, eight digs and 7.5 points. Steena Hubbard registered five digs, five points and four kills.
 
The Pioneers will continue their competition in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with a noon match against Hawaii Pacific.