HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team dropped a key CCAA match Saturday night as Cal State East Bay rallied back two to hand the Otters a 20–25, 25–23, 25–21, 25–22 setback in Pioneer Gym.

CSUMB got 16 kills from Anela Visesio (Seaside HS), a 14–kill, 24–dig double–double from Maddy Underwood (Spokane, Wash./Mead HS) and a career–high 50 assists from Marissa Miller (Colorado Springs/Air Academy HS). But that wasn't enough to offset the Pioneer duo of Kiki Leuteneker and Deja Thompson, who combined for 35 kills.
 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Kathy McKiernan put down her eighth kill of the match to break a 20–20 tie in the fourth set. That was part of a 6–0 run that turned a 20–17 Otter lead into a 23–20 Pioneer edge that they wouldn't relinquish.

PLAYOFF PICTURE… With four matches now remaining in the regular season, win Saturday night would have left CSUMB's postseason destiny in its own hands. The Otters are still very much alive for a postseason berth, but must now rely on help from other teams to get there.

SETTING AN EXAMPLE I… Freshman setter Marissa Miller not only set a personal high for assists in a match (50) Saturday night, that total is the third most ever in a 4–set match in Otter history.

SETTING AN EXAMPLE II… Marissa Miller's  50 assists were the most ever by an Otter freshman, regardless of length of match.

DIG THIS… Maddy Underwood's 24 digs Saturday night represent her career high. They were part of her team–leading eighth double–double of the season.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… KILLS: Anela Visesio 16, Maddy Underwood 14; BLOCKS: Chandler McKean 5; ACES: Kyra Galloway 2; ASSISTS: Marissa Miller 50; DIGS: Maddy Underwood 24.

THE LAST WORD… "I thought we played a great match but East Bay played a little better. They beat us tonight but we didn't beat ourselves which is something we have been working on. Maddy Underwood played tremendously and continues to get better each match. We are excited to get home this week and continue to improve.." — CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return to The Kelp Bed to open a 3–match homestand when nationally–ranked Cal State San Bernardino visit for 7 p.m. first serve..