IRVINE, Calif. - On Saturday, Cal State East Bay women's volleyball team played its final match of the 2023 Golden Eagle Classic against the host team, Concordia University Irvine. The Pioneers dropped the first two sets, then came back in the next two to even the match at two sets apiece. Then, CUI took the deciding set to defeat Cal State East Bay, 3-2 (25-12, 25-23, 19-25, 27-29, 15-8). 
 

MATCH SUMMARY

The Golden Eagles came out quick establishing an early lead and not looking back as they cruised to a 25-12 opening set win. Alexandria Gloria had two kills in the first set. 

The Pioneers kept the second set closer as it was even at 20-20. Kara Green got the next two kills for a 22-20 lead, but Concordia answered back with a 4-1 run to close out the second set, 25-23 for a 2-0 lead. 

To prolong the match, Cal State East Bay needed a response in the third set, and a response was established. The Pioneers led 21-19 late in the set, and Taumafa Tuinauvai finished set three with four consecutive kills as CSUEB won the set, 25-19. 

Concordia was at match point ahead 24-19. Then, the Pioneers showed they would not go quietly with seven straight points to retake the lead. Although both teams battled into extra points, the Pioneers took the final two, capped off by a kill from Tuinauvai for a 29-27 set win and a 2-2 match going into the deciding set. 

The deciding set was in favor early for the Golden Eagles, and Concordia prevailed to win the set, 15-8 and the match, 3-2 over the Pioneers. 
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Kara Green had 13 kills, as she reached 744 for her career, which puts her 10th in Pioneer history through Saturday. 
• With a double-double was Lexi Pagani who had 19 kills and a Pioneer-high 30 digs. 
• Green also had a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs.
• Tuinauvai had a double double with 13 kills and 17 assists and Pi'ilani Carvalho had a double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs. 
• Carvalho and Megan Crecelius had 24 assists each. 
• Defensively, Mia Jordan had three total blocks. 

 

RECORD

Cal State East Bay: 2-2
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers return to Southern California for a tournament next Friday, September 8 when they play two matches in the CPP/APU Tournament on the campus of Azusa Pacific University. They open with a matchup against Simon Fraser on Friday at 12:30 p.m. from the Felix Event Center. Later on Friday, Cal State East Bay takes on Point Loma at 6 p.m.