LA MIRADA, Calif. – Dominican women's volleyball fell 25-14, 25-14, 25-15 in the final game of its Thursday night doubleheader against Biola at Chase Gymnasium. 

Senior outside hitter Kiana Pelton led the Penguins with six kills, two blocks and an ace on the night, while Dominique Kirton led the Eagles with 11 kills, two blocks and eight digs.

Contrary to the first game of the doubleheader, Biola got off to a strong start as Abigail Copeland put down back-to-back kills before Abby Brewster served up an ace in a 4-0 run to take the 5-2 lead. Reagan Tjepkema helped them extend the lead to 13-6 after supplying three kills in a 6-1 run as the Eagles took firm control of the set. Dominican was unable to find any momentum in the set as Biola held them to a large run of 2-0 in the opening set.

Dominican was able to play tighter in the opening minutes of the second set, but Madison Beebe capped a 5-0 run with a pair of kills as they took an 11-7 lead. Senior outside hitter Mariah Ahid found the floor on a pair of kills for the Penguins in a 3-0 lead to help them close the gap back to two moments later. The momentum was short-lived as errors proved costly in a 7-point Eagle run that pushed their lead into double-digits at 22-12 and they took the 2-0 lead in the match.

Kirton kept the momentum with Biola with back-to-back kills to open the third set and then added a block to cap a set opening 4-0 run. Errors continued to plague Dominican as a 9-2 run helped the Eagles once again establish a double-digit lead at 15-5. Freshman outside hitter Lily Clemmer-Gillum stopped the Biola momentum with a kill and junior setter Gabi Maiocco served up an ace to give the Penguins a spark during a 5-0 run to cut the lead in half. It was as close as they could get as small runs helped the Eagles rebuild its double-digit lead as they took the final set 25-15.

Dominican will return to the court Saturday to take on Concordia University Irvine in a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT.