BOX SCORE | PODCAST

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Gabby Pecora had 16 kills and 22 digs but it wasn't enough for the Lady Penguins, who dropped their home opener and first-ever Pacific West Conference match to Notre Dame de Namur University on Thursday night, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 21-25.

Dominican looked strong out of the gate, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and pushing the lead to 10-2 before closing out game one on a Tianna Tuatagaloa kill.

Game two was a different story, as the Argos took an 11-6 lead to start the second set. With the game tied at 19, NDNU ripped off four straight points to go ahead 23-19. Dominican rallied back with four points of their own to knot things at 23 but an NDNU kill and a Dominican ball handling tied the match at one game apiece.

NDNU took the early 4-0 lead in game three and used a 9-3 run to propel the Argos to the 25-20 win in game four.

A 9-2 run did in the Lady Penguins in game four. They rallied back with a 6-3 run but it was too little, too late as Sara Steria put down the kill for NDNU to win game five 25-21 and take the match.

Tuatagaloa added 8 kills and 13 digs in the loss. Cayla Morphew and LaShelle Rullan each added 10 digs.