SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Cal State East Bay women's volleyball team improved to 3-1 on Saturday after winning two matches in the Green Chile Classic. In the earlier match on Saturday, the Pioneers went to five sets to defeat Fort Lewis. Later in the day, Cal State East Bay's second Saturday match went to five sets, as the Pioneers prevailed 3-2 over Wisconsin-Parkside.
Cal State East Bay 3, Fort Lewis 2 (25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14)
The Pioneers took the first two sets for an early 2-0 lead. However, the Skyhawks made a furious comeback to even up the match and forcing a deciding set. In the deciding set, CSUEB led 13-9. But FLC went on a run of its own of five unanswered points to regain the lead, reaching match point ahead 14-13. A kill by
Lexi Pagani ended the run and put both teams at 14-14 in the final set. The Pioneers took the lead on a kill from
Kara Green, then Pagani delivered again with the kill for match point, as Cal State East Bay won in five sets.
- Mia Jordan had 16 kills for a team high in the earlier match.
- Green had four service aces.
- Jordan also was outstanding defensively with four blocks.
- Taylor Miche had a team-high 18 digs.
Cal State East Bay 3, Wisconsin-Parkside 2 (26-28, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11
A third match of four in two days went into five sets for the Pioneers, who came out with a victory in their final contest of the 2022 Green Chile Classic. In the deciding set, Cal State East Bay trailed 11-8, only to answer with seven unanswered points, as an ace for
Megan Crecelius finished the match to give the Pioneers a 15-11 set win and a 3-2 match win.
- Reaching double-digits in kills in each match, Pagani had her season high of 17 against the Rangers and a .394 attack percentage. She finished with a double-double by adding 10 digs.
- Jordan had five total blocks in the match.
Cal State East Bay head coach
Kimberly Lambert following Saturday's action:
"I am very pleased with the growth our team has made since the start of the preseason. With our core group of returners, we have seen a different approach to their mindset this season. The incomers have quickly added to our team culture like I have never seen – it's going to be a fun season."
The Pioneers play in the NorCal Kickoff from September 1-3, co-hosted by Dominican (Calif.) and Sonoma State. The first match of the tournament for Cal State East Bay takes place on Thursday, September 1 at Dominican with a 7:30 p.m. opening serve from Conlan Center in San Rafael.
