SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay volleyball team delivered its most dramatic win of the season Friday night, erasing a two-set deficit to outlast Cal State San Marcos in a gritty five-set battle, 24-26, 25-27, 25-10, 25-23, 15-13. With the victory, the Pioneers improved to 5-6 overall and 2-1 in CCAA play.
The night began with heartbreak for the Pioneers, who had multiple chances in both opening sets but could not capitalize. EB dropped the first frame 26-24, then suffered another tough loss in the second, falling 27-25 despite 15 kills in the set.
East Bay responded, dominating the third frame 25-10, hitting .321 as a team while suffocating the Cougars' attack into a negative hitting percentage. The turnaround was led by senior outside hitter Barakat Adekola who finished the third with four kills while Natali Herrera added three of her own.
The Cougars pushed back in the fourth set as the two teams battled back and forth with eight ties and two lead changes. With the score tied at 23-23, EB put the set away after a service error and a kill by Adekola to even the match at 2-2.
With the match hanging in the balance, East Bay buckled down and out the Cougars away. The Pioneers hit .440 in the final frame, once again leaning on Adekola and Fane Paua to carry the offense, while Herrera sealed the net defensively. After trading blows deep into the set, the Pioneers delivered the final push to complete the comeback, 15-13.
East Bay finished with 65 kills on .234 hitting while holding San Marcos to a .145 percentage and just 53 kills.
Adekola finished with a match high 21 kills on .326 hitting and added 13 digs. Paua was nearly unstoppable, converting 14 kills on a blistering .414 clip.
Setter Pi'ilani Carvalho led the offense with 52 assists and helping four players into double-figure kills. She also chipped in 11 digs and two service aces. At the net, middle blocker Herrera was a difference-maker with 12 kills and a team-high seven blocks, while Malayah Adams added 12 kills and two blocks. Kale'a Kuamo'o tacked on 17 digs to lead the Pioneers.
East Bay is back in action tomorrow afternoon when they take on Cal State LA at 3:00 pm.
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