HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's volleyball team faced a tough challenge against the 19th-ranked San Francisco State Gators in a CCAA match at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward, California. The match, which took place on Thursday evening, ended the Pioneers' five-match winning streak.
The match was part of Senior Night celebrations for Cal State East Bay, with Coco Ikpe, Lexi Pagani, Alexandria Gloria, and Mia Jordan being recognized for their contributions to the program.
The Gators dominated the opening set, jumping out to an early lead. SFSU's strong serving, including aces from Kimberly DeBoer and Asia Arbaugh, put pressure on the Pioneers. Cal State East Bay struggled to find their rhythm, managing only 5 kills against 7 errors in the set.
The Pioneers bounced back impressively in the second set. They started with a 5-0 run and maintained their lead throughout. Lexi Pagani and Coco Ikpe led the offensive charge for East Bay. The set was sealed with a crucial block by Alexandria Gloria and Fane Paua, evening the match at 1-1.
Both teams battled closely, reaching a 15-15 tie midway through the set. San Francisco State then put together a crucial 4-point run to gain the upper hand. The Gators' offense, led by Izzy Issak and Tamiya Wilson, proved too much for the Pioneers to handle, allowing SFSU to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
- Lexi Pagani led Cal State East Bay with 14 kills.
- Fane Paua was a force at the net with six total blocks.
- Alexandria Gloria anchored the defense with a team-high 18 digs.
- For San Francisco State, Izzy Issak (21 kills) and Tamiya Wilson (17 kills) led the offensive charge.
Cal State East Bay: 12-11, 7-8 CCAA
No. 19 SF State: 19-4, 13-2 CCAA
Despite the loss, the Pioneers remain well in contention for a postseason berth, as they are tied for sixth place in the CCAA standings with three remaining matches.Â
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
Cal State East Bay will look to bounce back when it hosts (RV) Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, November 9, at 1 p.m. in Pioneer Gymnasium. The match will be the 2024 home finale for the Pioneers. East Bay will be seeking revenge after losing in three sets to CSUSB earlier in the season on September 26.
