HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay women's volleyball team sets off its 2021 season this Thursday evening, as the Pioneers play host to Academy of Art inside Pioneer Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m. This will be the first of four games for the Pioneers during the 2021 NorCal Kickoff between the CCAA and PacWest conferences.
 
Masks or face covering are required at all indoor athletic events regardless of vaccination status in Pioneer Gymnasium. The home contests will also be streamed live on CCAA Network and will also have live stats.
 
East Bay is 3-2  all-time against Academy of Art, and is currently carrying a one-match winning streak against the Urban Knights with the last meeting coming back in September of 2016. The Pioneers are 2-2  all-time against Dominican with a two-game winning streak against the Penguins.
 
CSUEB is 4-1 all-time against Holy Names, and currently  has a one-game winning streak against the Hawks with the last meeting coming back in September of 2017. East Bay won it's lone game against Fresno Pacific back in 2017.
The Pioneers were picked to finish No. 10 in the 2021 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll released on Aug. 20.
 
When CSUEB last competed in 2019, the Pioneers were led by junior Kara Green who earned a CCAA Honorable Mention nod and team MVP honors after leading the team with 275 kills, seventh most in the league. Senior Steena Hubbard played and started in all 25 matches while leading the squad with 72 blocks, ninth best in the CCAA. Fellow senior Kelly Markham also played and started in all 25 matches in 2019 while finishing second on the team with 60 blocks.
 
Next week, the Pioneers travel to Honolulu for the Hawaii Challenge hosted by Chaminade University beginning on Sept. 10, with a matchup against Montana State Billings starting at 3:00 p.m. (PST).