ATHERTON, Calif.---  Stan State's Mariah Iosua recorded a career high 27 kills and posted a .632 hitting percentage to key the Warriors' four-set win over the visiting Cal State East Bay Pioneers (25-18, 25-9, 20-25, 25-21) this evening at Haynes-Prim Pavilion on the campus of Menlo College in Atherton, Calif.  With the win, Stan State improved to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the CCAA.  This is the best start for a Warrior volleyball team in the NCAA D2 ERA. 

FIRST SET:  Stan State recorded five kills (two by Mariah Iosua and one each by Autumn Kirby and Ellison Weaver) to take a 6-1 lead to begin the match.  Lexi Pagani's kill cut the Warrior lead to 13-9. A Weaver kill increased the Warrior lead to 18-12.  The Warriors took a 24-16 lead on a Pioneer hitting error and finished the set off on a kill by Iosua off a pass from Gabby Rawson take the set 25-18. 

SECOND SET:  Once again, the guests came out of the intermission on fire this time taking an 8-2 lead capped by a Shaelyn Pruiett service ace.  Cal State East Bay (6-4, 1-1 CCAA) cut its deficit to 11-8 on an Alexandria Gloria kill.  The Warriors finished the set off by taking fourteen of the final fifteen points capped by four consecutive kills by Iosua, 25-9, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

THIRD SET:  The third set went back and forth until the Pioneers took a 20-15 lead.  A Gabby Rawson service ace cut the Pioneer lead to 20-17.  Mia Jordan's kill increased the hosts' lead to 23-17, but the Warriors came right back with back-to-back kills by Emily Meyer to cut the deficit to 23-19.  The hosts finished the set off taking two of the final four points, 25-20, and to cut the Warriors' lead in the match 2-1.

FOURTH SET:  After the intermission between sets, Stan State took a 6-2 lead in the fourth set on a Malia Tanksley kill off a pass from Gabby Rawson.  A combined block by the Pioneers gave the hosts a 9-8 lead.  The fourth set was back and forth just like earlier in the match until the visitors took a 19-18 lead on a Mariah Iosua kill off a pass from Rawson.  Lexi Pagani's kill cut the Pioneer deficit to 21-20, but the Warriors finished the set and match by taking four of the final five points capped by an Autumn Kirby kill off a pass from Haley Burdo, 25-21 and 3-1.

FIRST 9-1 START:  Stan State's 9-1 start this season is the first time in Warrior volleyball history since joining the NCAA Division II and the CCAA in 1998.  During the 2015 season, Stan State started the season winning eight of its first ten matches.

CAREER NIGHT:  Mariah Iosua recorded 27 kills which ties for second most in a single match in Warrior volleyball history in the NCAA DII ERA.  The 27 kills tie her with Blair Ehrlich who recorded 27 kills versus Cal State Monterey Bay in 2013.  Chrissy Ford and Lianne Vicchio hold the school record with 28.  Her .632 hitting percentage (27 kills with three errors and 38 attempts) is sixth in school history.  Teammate, Alex Byrd, holds the school record with a .715 hitting percentage which set last week versus Menlo, .715 (14-0-18).

ANOTHER ONE: Haley Burdo recorded her second consecutive double-double and third in her last matches this evening in the Warrior win.  She had 28 assists to go with her 12 digs.  This was her 21^st of her career.  She had five last season and 13 during the 2022 season.  Gabby Rawon had 16 digs and 12 assists this evening for her first double-double of the season and second of her career.

.329:  Stan State hit for a .329 hitting percentage as a team with 66 kills in 146 attempts with 18 errors.  Mariah Iosua led the way with 27 kills followed by Autumn Kirby with ten and Emily Meyer with nine.  Kirby hit for a .833 percentage with no errors in 12 attempts. 

UP NEXT:  The Warriors return home to Fitzpatrick Arena to begin a four-match home stand.  The Warriors will entertain Sonoma State (September 27), Cal Poly Humboldt (September 28), San Francisco State (October 4), and No. 19 Cal State San Bernardino (October 5).  All four matches are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.