Toros Unable to Hold Off Pioneers in 3-1 Loss

Box Score

CARSON -- Junior Alijah Gunsaulus led all hitters with 17 kills, but visiting Cal State East Bay withstood a first set loss en route to taking a 3-1 win over host Cal State Dominguez Hills tonight in the Torodome.

The loss drops CSUDH to 1-8, 0-5 CCAA, while East Bay improves to 5-5, 2-3 CCAA.

The Toros came out firing in the first set, leading from start to finish and turning a slim 4-3 lead into a 7-3 cushion after a Claire Autry hammer, and to 16-9 after a Dana Brown attack hit the Torodome floor on CSUEB's side.

East Bay made it close by cutting its deicit to just 21-19, but a Pioneer service error and Bridget Heins putaway on set point gave CSUDH a 25-19 win.

Set two was close throughout as East Bay reversed the role on the Toros, this time taking an early lead and holding off the hosts down the stretch. CSUDH got to within one point thrice late, and even knotted the set at 23-all on a Pioneer attack error, only to see CSUEB use consecutive Samantha Bruno putaways to even the match at one set each.

The visitors used that momentum to take set three by a 25-19 margin behind the strong serve of libero Brandi Brucato, before putting the Toros away in a 25-21 fourth set.

CSUDH hit just .148 for the match compared to .210 for the visitors, while also making four more service errors in the tight contest.

Heins chipped in 9 kills and Warner and Hailey Smith 9 each, while Brown's 43 sets led all setters.

In fact, Brown now needs just four more to become the program's all-time leading set assist leader in just two plus years in Carson.

The Toros will look to earn their first CCAA win tomorrow night against CS Monterey Bay, which was swept at Cal State L.A. earlier tonight.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Dana Brown: S/OPP; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 Alijah Gunsaulus: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#9 Bridget Heins: OH/MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#24 Claire Autry: OH/OPP; 6' 1"; Freshman

#14 Hailey Smith: OH; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Dana Brown
: 6' 0"; Junior
: S/OPP

#7 Alijah Gunsaulus
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#9 Bridget Heins
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH/MB

#24 Claire Autry
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH/OPP

#14 Hailey Smith
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: OH