LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Cal State East Bay pushed one of the CCAA's top teams to the limit on Saturday afternoon, but the Pioneers came up just short in a four-set road loss to Cal State LA, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, at University Gym. The result moved East Bay to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in CCAA play, while the Golden Eagles improved to 8-3 and remained unbeaten in league action at 4-0.
After a slow start in the opening set, where Cal State LA hit .419 and controlled the frame 25-17, the Pioneers found more rhythm in the second. East Bay tallied 11 kills and kept things close throughout, but the Golden Eagles strung together a late run to take it 25-21 and build a two-set cushion.
The Pioneers showed their resilience in the third set, behind the efficient hitting of Fane Paua, who finished with a team high 10 kills on .364 hitting. East Bay built an early lead and held off the Golden Eagles down the stretch, with Pi'ilani Carvalho setting up Paua for the clinching point in a tight 25-23 win that extended the match.
In the fourth, the teams traded blows through nine ties and four lead changes. East Bay kept it close but LA used a late push to seal the match with a 25-20 win.
Carvalho finished with 36 assists and 10 digs for her second double-double of the week, while Natali Herrera added eight kills and a team-best five blocks. Barakat Adekola contributed nine kills and 10 digs with Kale'a Kuamo'o tacking on a team best 18 digs.
As a team, East Bay totaled 44 kills, 63 digs, and eight blocks while holding Cal State LA to just .096 hitting in the third set.
The Pioneers return home next week to continue CCAA play with matches against UC Merced on Friday and Stanislaus State on Saturday.
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