[
Box score] [
Photo Gallery] [
Sonoma State presser] [
Cal State East Bay presser]
With its playoff fortunes on the line, Sonoma State's defense showed up big for the Seawolves in the first round of the 2022 CCAA Volleyball Tournament.
The No. 5 seed Sonoma State outblocked No. 4 Cal State East Bay 16-7 and outhit the Pioneers by nearly .100 points (.182-.089) to earn the 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, and 25-19 win.
Kiana Richardson, Jaden Krist, and Jessie Hobbs each had six assisted blocks, and Richardson added a solo block. That pressure helped force 33 hitting errors from CSUEB, as it was tough for any ball to find the floor on the Seawolves' side of the net.
The CCAA's second-best defensive team held Cal State East Bay below a .091 hitting percentage in three of the four sets, including two under .030 percent. The Pioneers' .089 hitting percentage was the 10th time Sonoma has held its opponent under triple-digits this season.
Richardson led Sonoma State with 13 kills and two service aces. Jen Trephan and Krist posted seven kills apiece, and Hobbs and Brooklyn Jackson each had six. Brynna Slayton led the team with 22 assists, and Trephan had a team-best 13 digs.
Lexi Pagani posted 12 kills in the loss for CSUEB. Karis Carter added nine kills and just one error. Taylor Miche had 20 kills, and Kara Green just missed a double-double with nine kills and 19 digs.
Sonoma State will advance to the semifinals of the CCAA Volleyball Tournament. The Seawolves will face the No. 1 seed Cal State LA on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m.