Fall Game Notes - Week 5

m-vball-limeberger-serve.jpg

Senior setter Amanda Limeberger and the Pioneer volleyball team return home for the first time since Sept. 11. (Photo: Ron Allen)

  • September 30, 2010

The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ soccer and volleyball teams return to Hayward this week for the first time since Sept. 10, playing host to six home events this weekend. The Pioneer volleyball team will kick off the "Welcome Back Weekend" against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m. Friday at Pioneer Gym. The women's soccer team will continue the Friday tripleheader against Cal Poly Pomona at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men's soccer night cap against the Broncos at 7 p.m., both at Pioneer Stadium.

Saturday, the Pioneer cross country teams will show their stuff against several ranked teams from all three NCAA divisions at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore. Volleyball will close out its weekend on Saturday night, hosting No. 23 Cal State LA at Pioneer Gym at 7 p.m., while the men's and women's soccer teams will cap the weekend with a Sunday doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino. Monday, the men's and women's golf teams will wrap up the week's activities, teeing off the Grand Canyon Invitational and St. Martin's Invitational, respectively. Find this week's schedule and complete notes below.

PDF - Fall Game Notes: Week 5

VOLLEYBALL (9-3, 4-3 CCAA)

Game 12: Cal State Dominguez Hills
 Friday, Oct. 1 • 3 p.m.
Pioneer Gym • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

Game 14: #23 Cal State LA
 Saturday, Oct. 2 • 7 p.m.
Pioneer Gym • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Set to Begin Four-Match Homestand: The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ volleyball team returns home to Pioneer Gym for the first time since Sept. 11, when it plays host to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA this weekend. The Pioneers (9-3, 4-3 CCAA) will meet the Toros at 3 p.m. on Friday before welcoming the 23rd-ranked Golden Eagles on Saturday at 7 p.m. East Bay is coming off a 1-1 week and looking to build on a win over Chico State last Saturday. This weekend’s matches open a four-match homestand for the Pioneers that will also feature Cal Poly Pomona and No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino.

Last Week: ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ dropped its third straight match in a 3-0 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay on Sept. 24 before bouncing back on Saturday to top Chico State 3-1. The win over the Wildcats snapped a three-match losing streak and saw freshman Katie Allen and junior Jit Athwal record 13 kills apiece. The Pioneers finished their season-high five-match road swing 2-3, including a win over then-No. 11 UC San Diego on Sept. 15.

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers continue their homestand next weekend when they take on Cal Poly Pomona on Oct. 8 and 2009 national runner up and No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino on Oct. 9. East Bay will then hit the road for a pair of games Oct. 15 and 16.

Tracking the Toros: Cal State Dominguez Hills enters the weekend with a 1-10 overall records and a 1-5 mark in conference play. The Toros are currently riding a three-match losing streak and haven’t won a set since a Sept. 17 victory over Cal Poly Pomona. Denise Devine is leading Dominguez Hills, averaging 3.53 kills per game, while Cassidy Mangum is averaging 7.69 assists per game. Last season, the Pioneers and Toros split their two matches, with CSUEB picking up a 3-1 win at home.

Looking at Cal State LA: The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a No. 23 national ranking and are coming off back-to-back losses to San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay. Cal State LA is 6-4 overall and 3-3 in CCAA play ahead of its match up with UC San Diego on Friday night. The Golden Eagles are led by Natalia Gonzalez’ 3.16 kills per game, while Amrita Tuladhar’s 0.59 aces and 9.81 assists per game rank second and fifth in the CCAA, respectively. Cal State LA will be looking for a repeat of last season’s two-match sweep of the Pioneers, including a 3-0 sweep in Hayward.

MEN'S SOCCER (2-6-1, 1-4-1 CCAA)

Game 10: Cal Poly Pomona
 Friday, Oct. 1 • 7 p.m.
Pioneer Stadium • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

Game 11: #16 Cal State San Bernardino
 Sunday, Oct. 3 • 2 p.m.
Pioneer Stadium • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

Pioneers Return Home to Face Broncos and Coyotes: The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ men’s soccer team will make its first appearance at Pioneer Stadium since Sept. 10 when it takes on Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, followed by a meeting with No. 16 Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday. The Pioneers (2-6-1, 1-4-1 CCAA) are looking to build on three straight solid performances following a win, loss and draw in their last three games. East Bay will meet the Broncos at 7 p.m. on Friday before facing the Coyotes at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Pioneer Stadium.

Last Time Out: ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ is coming off a week that saw it fall to San Francisco State on a last-minute goal before playing to a 2-2 draw with Cal State Monterey Bay in a game that saw 13 cards handed out. Junior Brett Souza notched his first goal of the season, while freshman Alexis Romo posted his team-leading second score of the year in the draw with the Otters.
Looking Ahead: Following a non-conference matchup with Notre Dame de Namur on Tuesday, Pioneers hit the road again next weekend, traveling to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA to kick off the second half of the CCAA season.

Scouting the Broncos: Cal Poly Pomona enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference play. The Broncos are coming off a 1-1 weekend that saw them top then-No. 1 Cal State LA before falling to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Luis Gonzalez leads the Broncos with 15 points on six goals and three assists, while James Iles and Tony Iniguez have shared goalkeeping duties, compiling a 2.09 team goals against average. Last year, Pomona swept the two-game series with the Pioneers.

Checking Out Cal State San Bernardino: The Coyotes enter the weekend as the No. 23 team in the nation, sporting a 6-2 record overall and a 4-2 mark in the CCAA. San Bernardino is second in the South Division and has won three straight games, including back-to-back shutouts of Cal State Dominguez Hills and then-No. 1 Cal State LA last week. Obi Agwu’s 13 points on five goals and three assists lead the Coyotes, who boast an impressive 0.75 goals against average. Last season, CSUSB posted a pair of wins over the Pioneers, including a 1-0 overtime win in Hayward.

WOMEN’S SOCCER (4-4-1, 2-4-0 CCAA)

Game 10: Cal Poly Pomona
 Friday, Oct. 1 • 4:30 p.m.
Pioneer Stadium • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

Game 11: Cal State San Bernardino
 Sunday, Oct. 3 • 11:30 a.m.
Pioneer Stadium • Hayward
Live stats: csueastbay.edu/athletics

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Looks to Get Back On Track at Home: The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ women’s soccer team will get a brief break from the grind of the road season, coming back to Hayward for a pair of games this weekend against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. The Pioneers (4-4-1, 2-4-0 CCAA) will look to turn things around after back-to-back losses as they welcome the Broncos on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the Coyotes on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Pioneer Stadium.

Last Time Out: After winning back-to-back CCAA games against Humboldt State and Sonoma State two weeks ago, the Pioneers dropped a pair of matches at San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay last weekend. The Pioneers got their lone goal of the weekend from Kara Yamamoto in the first half of the loss to the Otters.

Looking Ahead: ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ will hit the road again next weekend as it travels to Southern California to open the second half of CCAA play. The Pioneers will meet Cal State LA on Oct. 8 before heading to face off with Cal State Dominguez Hills on Oct. 9.

Keeping Up with Cal Poly Pomona: The Broncos enter Friday’s meeting with a 5-2-1 overall record and a 3-2-1 mark in the CCAA. Cal Poly Pomona is currently third in the South Division standings and has won three of its last five games. The Broncos are coming off a 5-1 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills and looking to improve on last year’s split with the Pioneers.

Scouting the Coyotes: Cal State San Bernardino is coming off a winless weekend that saw it draw with Cal State Dominguez Hills before falling to Cal State LA 1-0. The Coyotes are 5-2-1 overall and 3-2-1 in CCAA play and will be looking for their first win since Sept. 17 this weekend. CSUSB is led by Jani Carmona’s five goals and four assists and Tiffany Malick’s 0.94 goals against average. The Coyotes took both matches against the Pioneers last season, allowing just one goal.

CROSS COUNTRY

Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational
Saturday, Oct. 2 • 9:30 a.m.
Bush’s Pasture Park • Salem, Ore.

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Looks to Make Its Mark in Oregon: The Pioneer cross country teams will head out-of-state this weekend, traveling to the 36th annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore. ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ will be looking to build on second- and third-place finishes by the women and men, respectively, last week, as they take on teams from all three NCAA divisions, including several nationally ranked Division I and II squads. The meet is set to begin with the men’s 8k at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the women’s 5k at 10:15 a.m.

Last Time Out: The Pioneer women posted their second runner up finish of the season at the Westmont Invitational in Santa Barbara last week. ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ was led by sophomore Megan McDaniel’s third straight fourth-place showing, along with Amanda McNabb’s fifth-place finish. The Pioneer women saw five runners finish among the top 10. On the men’s side, ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ finished third in the five-team field, led by Erik Rodriguez’ 11th-place showing on the 8k course.

Looking Ahead: ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ will take a week off from action before returning to the trails again on Oct. 16 at the Bronco Invitational in Santa Clara. Last year, the Pioneer women finished second overall and saw Nancy Velasquez notch a sixth-place showing among a field of 135 competitors from all divisions.

MEN'S GOLF

Grand Canyon Invitational
Oct. 4-5
Golf Club at Estrella • Goodyear, Ariz.

Pioneers Head to Arizona in Third Week of Fall Campaign: The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ men’s golf team will head to the desert this week, traveling to Goodyear, Ariz., for the Grand Canyon Invitational on Monday. The Pioneers will look to build on their team total of 879, which they shot in both of their previous tournaments, when they play at the Golf Club of Estrella beginning on Oct. 4.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers finished eighth in a 15-team field at the Western Washington Invitational in Bellingham, Wash., last week. Newcomer Jeff Cornez led East Bay with a tie for 16th place and a three-round score of 217. Wes Davis had another quality outing, finishing five strokes behind Cornez and recording the team’s best single-round score with a 68 in the second round, besting his first-round score by 10 strokes.

WOMEN'S GOLF

St. Martin’s Invitational
Oct. 4-5
Olympia Country Club • Olympia, Wash.

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Heads North for St. Martin’s Invite: The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ womens’ golf team will trade places with the men this week, heading to Washington for the St. Martin’s Invitational on Monday. The Pioneers will look to improve on last week’s 15th-place showing at the Grand Canyon Invite as they meet Division II competition at the Olympia Country Club in Olympia, Wash.

Last Time Out: The Pioneer women’s golf team took 15th in an 18-team field at the Grand Canyon Invitational last week. East Bay was led by freshman Deanna Tyndall for the second straight week. Tyndall shot a 162 and finished 59th overall, while tying with Christina Walker for a single-round team low of 78. East Bay finished 27 strokes ahead of 16th-place Lincoln University.