HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State East Bay dropped its first two sets on Thursday to Cal State Monterey Bay in a CCAA showdown, then stormed back to force a deciding set. However, the hopes of completing the comeback were taken away in the fifth set as the Otters won, 3-2 (25-16, 26-24, 23-25, 14-25, 15-12) at Pioneer Gymnasium.
 

MATCH SUMMARY

The opening set was close for a while. With the Otters ahead 17-15, they scored the next seven points, and eight of the last nine for a 25-16 opening set win. 

Set two saw the Pioneers ahead by as much as eight points, but CSUMB battled back and even went ahead 24-23 for set point. An unforced error tied the set at 24-24, but the Otters took the next two points to go ahead 2-0 in sets. 

After dropping the first two sets, the Pioneers staved off a sweep in the third set. Despite relinquishing a lead of as much as seven points, and even trailing 23-22 with a sweep becoming imminent, a kill from Lexi Pagani evend the set at 23-23, then two errors by CSUMB allowed the Pioneers to win the set and prolonging the match. 

Even at 9-9 in set four, the Pioneers scored the next five points and didn't look back in the set, cruising to a 25-14 win capped off by a kill from Coco Ikpe to force a fifth set. 

CSUMB won the first three points of the deciding set. Despite the Pioneers' ability to keep the deficit within reach, they were unable to fully catch up and ultimately the comeback effort came up short as the Otters won the final set, 15-12 for a 3-2 win on Thursday. 
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Pagani stood out with a team-high 17 kills for the Pioneers.
• In the first set, Ikpe had three straight service aces on as many serves, as her three aces led the Pioneers in the category. 
• Kale'a Kuamo'o contributed 21 digs and her 4.11 digs-per-set average is most in the CCAA through Thursday.
• Defensively, Fane Paua had six total blocks and with 52 total blocks on the season, she has the fourth most in the CCAA through Thursday.
• Jackie Wahl led the charge for Cal State Monterey Bay with a match-high 28 kills.

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 7-10, 2-7 CCAA
Cal State Monterey Bay: 4-12, 3-6 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

Cal State East Bay will look to bounce back when they face Cal State Monterey Bay again on Saturday at 5 p.m. from The Kelp Bed in Seaside, California, seeking to avenge Thursday's loss.