SANTA ANA - The Dons closed the first round of Orange Empire Conference competition with a hard-fought three set loss to Fullerton College. The Hornets (12-2, 5-2) defeated the Dons (3-12, 0-7) by final game scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21.

The Dons opened the first set with an Iliana Mendoza kill before grabbing an early 4-1 lead over the Hornets. Santa Ana continued to hold that lead, with another Mendoza kill putting the Dons up 8-4 before the Dons went on to establish an 11-6 lead.

But Fullerton would battle back to tie the set at 11-11 before taking its first lead of the set at 14-13. The Hornets would then pull away to a 20-16 lead before the Dons get within three late at 22-19. However, the Hornets would close out the set with a 3-1 run to win 25-20.

The Hornets opened the second set with two-straight points before the Dons forced a quick tie at 2-2 with their second point coming on a Mendoza kill. But Fullerton answered with a 9-1 run to establish an 11-3 lead.

From there, the Hornets would extend their lead to 18-8 before the Dons mounted a late run. The Dons would chip away at Fullerton's lead, including three-straight points on a Michelle Nguyen kill followed by back-to-back service aces by Alejandrina Alejandro. But the Hornets would put an end to the run, winning the set 25-17.

The third set opened similar to the first with the Dons grabbing an early 6-1 lead including a Mendoza kill, an Nguyen kill, a Jacqueline Salvador service ace and a Danielle Goldowski kill. But, the Hornets would answer with a run of their own to tie the set at 8-8.

The Dons would reclaim the lead at 10-8 before the teams played to a 10-10 and 11-11 tie. Fullerton would break the latter tie before jumping out to a 20-14 lead. The Dons would then mount a late comeback, pulling within one point at 21-20, but the Hornets ended the rally with a 4-1 run to win the set, and the match, by a final of 25-21.