MONTEREY, Calif.- Dominican women's volleyball opened their 2025 campaign Friday with a double-header in the Otter Invitational. The Penguins faced off against the host Otters in the first match of the day then squared off against Westminster University to close it out. Head coach Tim Loesch begins his second year donning the black and gold after improving Dominican's win total by five games last season. With nine newcomers and solid returners the Penguins are ready to compete and make some noise this year.

CSUMB 3, DUC 2

The Penguins came into the kelp bed aggressive and ready to strike early. Kali Young, who had an impressive rookie season last year, picked up where she left off and collected the first point of the season for the Pengs. Kiara Milar, the junior transfer fed Young for the kill then assisted on the next two plays. Milar and sophomore Chloe Cruz were all over the court for Dominican not only in the first set, but throughout the match. Young started the set with the first point and ended it when she took a great feed from her teammate and slammed it home. She would finish with a team high 17 kills.

The second set was neck and neck with both teams trading points. Young and senior Lauren Wiley provided the offense as the Otters had no answer for them in this set. Dominican would find some separation when freshman Cierra Ray made back-to-back hustle plays first by collecting a kill, then forcing an attack error.

Junior Ashlyn Daugherty established a presence on the block as she was making life tough for the Otters defense. One of her blocks gave the Pengs breathing room later in the set. Wiley would secure the second set victory for Dominican as she took a nice feed from freshman Sophia Bernabe and whistled it past the defense.

The match would end up going the distance with the Pengs never losing their competitive spirit. Alexis Schwartz, another highly touted freshman, came on strong in the fourth set with her attacking mindset. Coach Loesch rewarded her by starting her in the fifth, and she seized the opportunity by collecting two straight kills. The Otters would bounce back with a 5-0 run and eventually close out the set for the victory.

WESTMINSTER 4, DUC 1

After a hard fought first match against CSU Monterey Bay, the Penguins would square off against the Griffins of Westminster Friday night. Dominican would jump out to a fast start early thanks in part to Schwartz who continued her momentum from the first match. She would collect her first kill coming off a nice dish from Cruz, and then on the ensuing possession Schwartz slammed it home again this time off an assist from fellow freshman Ayla Johanski. Schwartz, the Carlsbad native ended with a game high 15 kills and 11 digs.

Speaking of Johanski, the freshman out of San Marcos led the Pengs in assists against the Griffins dishing out 15 while Cruz was right behind her with 10. Daugherty would help Dominican close out the first set when she slammed home a kill for the set point. Then her and Reese Bozak combined for a block resulting in a 27-25 set victory.

The following sets the Pengs would fight tough and keep it close, but it was the Griffins who came up with that extra play. Dominican found itself always within striking distance by winning the aces and blocks department. Fellow freshman Kaylee Noa had a game high four aces while Schwartz was right behind her with three. Daugherty would finish the night bringing down a game high five blocks to go along with her six kills.

The Pengs will be back on the court tomorrow for another double-header starting at 10 a.m. with Lincoln Memorial than wrapping up with Seattle Pacific at 2 p.m.