BOX SCORE

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — In its first-ever meeting with the newest member of the Pacific West Conference, the Dominican University of California volleyball team waged an uphill battle on Wednesday before losing 25-19, 25-17, 25-16 to California Baptist University in the Conlan Center.

Sophomore Jessica Jones led the Lady Penguins (1-23/1-14) with eight kills and a team-best three service aces. Teammate Ashlee Sand had seven, one short of her season-high. Sarah Bain topped Dominican with 17 assists and combined with Katy Batchelder for 21 digs.

Sophomore Jelena Dragovioc from Belgrade, Serbia, the PacWest's leader in hitting percentage, had a .667 hitting percentage to lead the Lancers (17-9/9-5).

“Overall, I thought we were competitive and worked very hard,” said Dominican Head Coach Gayle Stammer of her team, which was coming off a nine-day, five-game road trip to Hawaii. “Ball control is the game. Passing and serving. For the most part we did that well.”

The Penguins competed hard in the opening set, rallying from four points down to tie the set at 8-8 then coming from six points behind (15-9) to within two points at 20-18 on a service ace by Sand. There were a couple of long volleys, a pair of great lay-out digs by Batchelder (who had five in the set) and three  kills apiece by Seluia "Ria" Falealili and Jones, but the Lancers' Ingrid Carmona from the Dominican Republic dominated with nine kills and eight digs to pace Cal Baptist.

“We did play well,” said Stammer. “We've been working on putting the ball away on one play, without many long rallies, and when we do that, or any team does that, we're going to have more success.”

Dominican also staged a couple of comebacks in the second set. Trailing 6-3, the Penguins reeled off four consecutive points on a kill and tip by Sand, a Falealili ace and a beautiful crosscourt kill by Jones to seize the lead. Dominican fell behind again, 15-9, but rallied to within two points, 15-13, thanks to a Falealili kill and an ace by Jones, who leads the team in that category.

In the final set, the Lady Penguins pulled even with Lancers at seven points apiece following a Jones kill, but Dominican once again was put in a position of having to play catch-up.

Stammer was pleased with her players who came off the bench against Cal Baptist, particularly senior Cayla Morphew.

“All of our subs came in and did a very good job off the bench which is ultimately what I need to happen, though it doesn't always happen in game situations,” she said. “All the people who came in and contributed made a difference in the game with Cayla being one of those who did very well tonight.”

The same two teams will meet again on Friday, November 11. That's when the Lady Penguins' season comes to end on Senior Night as Morphew, the only senior on Dominican's volleyball roster, is honored in a pre-game ceremony prior to the Lady Penguins' game against the Lancers at 7:00 p.m. in theConlan Center.