SANTA ANA - The Santa Ana College Dons opened the 2013 season at home with a straight-set loss to visiting San Diego City College in a non-conference game. San Diego City won the match with set scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-9.

The Knights controlled the action early in the first game as they jumped out to a 12-3 lead over the Dons. Later in the set, with San Diego City leading 15-6, the Dons got a block from Myriah Kunipo-Aguiree and Netina Moemoe before an Iliana Mendoza killed pulled the Dons within seven at 15-8.

From there, the Dons used a pair of late service aces by Alejandrina Alejandro to keep the Knights lead at seven at 22-15. But it was too little too late as the Knights closed out the first set with a 25-16 win.

The second game opened with the Dons holding two early leads at 1-0 and 2-1 before back-to-back points put the Knights up 4-2. The teams then played to a 5-5 tie before a 6-1 run put San Diego City on top at 11-6.

The Dons battled back later in the set to force a 15-15 tie before back-to-back service aces by Treyland Leauanae put them up 17-15. The Dons would go on to hold a 20-17 lead before the Knights made a late run to tie the set at 22-22 before ultimately winning 25-22 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set opened as tightly as the second ended with the Knights holding an early lead of 5-3 before the Dons cut their lead to 7-6. A few points later, Kunipo-Aguirre's kill pulled the Dons within three at 11-8. However, the Knights would close the set out on a 14-1 run to take the third set, and the match, by a final score of 25-9.

Next up for the Dons is a pair of road games at Cerritos College on September 6 and at Southwestern College on September 11.