The Cal State Stanislaus volleyball team made the final push to hold off the Pioneers in five sets Saturday night.
After taking a two-sets to none lead, the Warriors allowed the visiting Pioneers to rally back to eventually force a fifth set. Cal State Stanislaus prevailed in the end with a 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 20-25, 18-16 win on senior night.
The Warriors were led by seniors Andrea Fett (22 kills, 13 digs), Janay Bankston (18 kills), Jennifer Marsh (14 kills, 3 blocks) and Melissa Bishop (4 kills, 3 blocks) as they end the home portion of the season. Cal State Stanislaus improved to 9-19 overall and 6-14 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association after completing its first weekend sweep this season.
Also highlighting the night were the defensive efforts led by Ashley Pittman's 20 digs. Jaclyn Pinasco and Eva Chafeheach had 15 digs, Fett picked up 13 and Munoz 11. On the blocks Jordan Harris, Bishop and Marsh each had three total.
Back on Oct. 5, when the Warriors visited Pioneer Gym in Hayward, the position was the other way around. Cal State Stanislaus trailed 0-2 and rallied to win two straight to force a fifth. The Warriors won the decisive set 15-13 on two Fett kills for the big victory.
On Saturday night, almost the same thing happened. The Pioneers rallied to force a fifth and was determined to for pay-back. East Bay rolled off to an 8-3 lead, but the Warriors came back with six of the next seven points to tie the match at 9-9.
The match would get into a see-saw battle with CSUEB (10-15, 5-13 CCAA) holding off a set-point at 14-13. The score was tied three times after that point until a Pioneer service error to give Stanislaus another match point at 17-16. Finally, after some great rallies by both sides, a Nicole Boyle attack at the net goes wide to give Stanislaus the victory.
Fett turned in back-to-back 22-kill nights, Bankston posted two 18-kill matches in a row while Marsh picked up her second straight 14-kill contest to lead the Warriors.
Freshman setter Kendal Munoz earned 53 assists, one night after setting a new freshman single season record with 57 assists. She also had three service aces Saturday night.