PORTLAND, Ore. – The Cal State Dominguez Hills volleyball team started off the 2017 season having split with two GNAC opponents Friday, besting Western Oregon in four sets (25-23, 11-25, 25-23, 25-14) to start the day but coming up short against host Concordia (Ore.) in five games (25-23, 20-25, 25-13, 22-25, 10-15) in the nightcap.
 
Tati Yandall recorded 20 of her 38 kills in the match against Concordia, marking the second straight season the sophomore has reached that mark on the first day of the campaign. Lynda Nguyen made 27 digs in her collegiate debut against the Cavaliers while junior Cathryn Lopez prevented 23 balls from touching the floor against the Wolves.
 
Riley Kiger combined for 85 assists throughout the day, including 44 against Western Oregon. She was three successful sets away from reaching her personal best set in 2015.
 
After edging the Wolves 25-23 in both the first and third sets, the Toros ran away in the fourth round 25-14 for the match win. The Toros used a 11-1 rally led by Yandall's four kills to take a 23-11 lead in the final game.
 
CSUDH had made one last effort in the deciding set against Concordia, going on a four-point run in a match-point situation but was eventually halted by the Cavaliers.
 
In addition to it being the season opener, it was the Toros first contests outside of California since 2004.

Two more matches are on tap for Saturday at Concordia's Labor Day Tournament. The Toros start the day against Lubbock Christian (Texas) at noon followed by Westminster College (Utah) at 5 p.m.