SANTA ANA - The Dons 2012 campaign came to an as they lost to visiting Saddleback College despite all three sets being close. The Dons (2-19, 0-14) lost the sets to Saddleback (5-18, 3-11) by scores of 25-19, 25-20 and 26-24.

The Gauchos controlled the early stages of the first set as they jumped out to a 10-5 lead before the Dons used an 8-0 run to take a 13-10 lead. The Dons continued to hold the lead until Saddleback forced a 16-16 tie before taking a 17-16 lead. The set tied again at 18-18 before Saddleback closed out the set with a 7-1 run, winning 25-19.

The second set opened with the Dons holding two early leads at 1-0 and 3-2 before Saddleback reclaimed the lead at 4-3, a lead they would hold until the Dons tied the set at 18-18. Tori Sparks' service ace gave the Dons a temporary lead at 19-18, but the Gauchos again went on a late run to win the set 25-20.

The story of the third set came late when the Dons rallied from an 18-14 deficit before building a 24-21 lead on the strength of two kills from Sparks and a kill from Briana Boyle. The lead, however, was erased by a 5-0 run by Saddleback who won the set, and the match, by a final score of 26-24.