HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay volleyball team fell to San Francisco State in four sets Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Gymnasium. The Pioneers responded to an opening-set loss with a strong second-set performance but were unable to maintain that momentum, falling 17-25, 25-18, 21-25 and 12-25. East Bay moved to 7-10 overall and 5-4 in CCAA play.
San Francisco State took the opening set 25-17, holding East Bay to a .065 hitting percentage. The Pioneers responded in the second set, recording 14 kills and a .238 hitting percentage to claim a 25-18 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
The Gators regained control in the third set, taking a 25-21 decision before closing out the match with a 25-12 victory in the fourth.
Lamona Lauhingoa led the East Bay offense with 10 kills and added 15 digs and a service ace. Barakat Adekola followed with eight kills and a team-high 22 digs, contributing a service ace, one solo block and one block assist.
Natali Herrera provided seven kills while hitting a team-best .278 among Pioneers with at least 10 attempts. Herrera also recorded three block assists, while Gianna Navarro added six kills and seven digs.
Pi'ilani Carvalho directed the East Bay offense with 28 assists while recording five service aces, 12 digs and one solo block. Her five aces accounted for five of the Pioneers' seven service aces in the match.
Kale'a Kuamo'o added 13 digs, while Carys Fouser contributed two kills and a solo block.
As a team, East Bay finished with 36 kills, 75 digs and seven service aces while hitting .103. San Francisco State recorded 51 kills and 87 digs with a .197 hitting percentage.
The Pioneers showed their ability to respond in the second set, using an efficient offensive performance to pull even before the Gators claimed the final two frames. East Bay will look to build on that second-set effort as it continues its CCAA schedule.
