SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal State East Bay opened CCAA play with a victory Friday evening, rallying past Cal State San Marcos in four sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, at The Sports Center.
After dropping the opening set, East Bay responded with its strongest offensive frame of the match in the second.
The Pioneers recorded 12 kills with just three attack errors on 27 attempts, hitting .333. The set featured eight ties and four lead changes before East Bay secured a 25-21 win to even the match at one set apiece.
East Bay carried the momentum into the third. The Pioneers recorded 13 kills and battled through six ties and two lead changes before taking a 25-22 victory to move ahead 2-1.
The fourth set proved to be the tightest of the night.
The teams battled through 16 ties and eight lead changes, but East Bay came through late to take the frame 25-23 and complete the comeback with three consecutive set victories.
Barakat Adekola led East Bay with 11 kills and added a team-high 17 digs along with two block assists. Lamona Lauhingoa finished with 10 kills, nine digs, a service ace, two solo blocks and a block assist.
Natali Herrera provided an efficient performance at the net, finishing with nine kills and just one attack error on 20 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage. Herrera also recorded two solo blocks and three block assists.
Pi'ilani Carvalho directed the offense with 36 assists while adding nine digs, two service aces and two block assists. Carys Fouser added three kills on three attempts for a 1.000 hitting percentage while also contributing a solo block and a block assist.
East Bay finished with 43 kills, 39 assists, seven service aces and 63 digs while hitting .169 for the match. Cal State San Marcos finished with 51 kills and hit .184.
With the victory, Cal State East Bay improves to 2-5 overall and 1-0 in CCAA play.
