ORANGE, CA - The Dons lost a pair of matches as they hosted three others schools in the new gymnasium at Santiago Canyon College. Both losses came in straight sets as the Dons fell to Rio Hondo College and Chaffey College. Fellow Orange Empire Conference competitor, Saddleback College, was the fourth participant in the quad match.

Dons Vs. Rio Hondo

In the first match, the Dons fell in three sets to Rio Hondo by scores of 25-19, 25-14 and 25-17. Netina Moemoe kicked off the first set with a service ace as the Dons grabbed the first two points of the set. From there, the two teams played to a 4-4 tie and a 6-6 tie before the Roadrunners took the lead for good at 7-6.

The Dons kept the set as close as one point up to 13-12 before Rio Hondo extended its lead to six at 20-14. SAC would make a late run, getting as close as four at 23-19 before the Roadrunners closed out the set.

The second set saw the Dons grabbing leads at 5-4 on an Iliana Mendoza kill and 6-5 on a Michelle Nguyen kill before the teams were tied at 9-9 on another Mendoza kill. However, Rio Hondo would break that tie with a 5-0 run before going on to win the set by a final score of 25-14.

In the third set, the Dons built a 5-2 lead behind a pair of service aces by Alejandrina Alejandro before the Roadrunners fought back to a 6-6 tie. The teams would stay close with Rio Hondo holding an 11-9 lead before the Roadrunners pulled away to a 12-20 lead. From there, Rio Hondo closed out the match with a 25-17 win.

Dons Vs. Chaffey

In the Dons match against Chaffey College, the two teams battled point-for-point in the first set. Nguyen and Mendoza combined for early kills as the Dons jumped out to a 5-2 lead before Chaffey crept back in to tie the set at 8-8. The Dons then grabbed three of the next four leads on a Danielle Goldowski kill at 9-8 and a Mendoza kill at 11-10. The Dons third lead was set up by a kill and a block, back-to-back, by Treyland Leauanae.

Chaffey came back to tie the set at 14-14 before a block by Esther Arroyo put the Dons up 15-14. SAC would continue to lead, with their largest lead coming at 24-20. However, Chaffey would then go on a 6-0 run to win the set 26-24.

The second set belonged to the Panthers who led the entire set with the exception of one tie at 8-8. The Dons, however, put up a fight throughout, including a 4-0 that turned a 17-12 lead by Chaffey into a 17-16 lead. That run was answered with an 8-2 run by Chaffey that closed out the set at 25-18.

In the third, and final, set, the Dons grabbed an early 4-2 lead before establishing a 7-4 lead. Chaffey would come back with a 9-0 run to pull out to a 13-7 lead before the Dons chipped away at the lead, pulling within four at 20-16. But the Panthers would end the match with a final score of 25-17.

Other Matches

Chaffey College defeated Saddleback College 28-26, 27-25 and 25-19.

Saddleback College defeated Rio Hondo College 19-25, 25-23, 26-24 and 25-16