PORTLAND, Ore. – The flight back to Carson will be a pleasant one for the Cal State Dominguez Hills volleyball team as the Toros swept Lubbock Christian (Texas) followed by a four-set victory over Westminster (Utah) to wrap up Concordia's (Ore.) Labor Day Tournament Saturday.
 
The Toros finish the first weekend of the season 3-1, making it their best start since 2013.
 
Bridget Heins had 23 kills and freshman Lynda Nguyen had 31 digs between the two matches. Tati Yandall also had a 21 kill, 18 dig afternoon, and by the end of the weekend, she was named to the All-Tournament after averaging 3.69 kills per set, maintaining a .271 attack percentage and reaching for 31 digs.
 
Match 1 – CSUDH 3, Lubbock Christian 0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-21)
Despite the Toros picking up the match win, all three sets were decided by no more than four points. Dominguez Hills had rallied being down in the first set and a pair of kills by Heins and Claire Autry lifted the Toros past the Chaps 28-26. With the second set in the Toros control, the Chaps did make a last effort in the end by scoring four of the next five points to make it 24-21 deficit. But the rally came to a halt when they made an attacking error to give the Toros the game point.
 
Lubbock Christian took control of the third set after a seven-point momentum gave the Chaps a 17-13 lead. The Toros returned the favor by going on a 10-1 run to put together a 21-18 lead en route to the set win.
 
Heins led the effort on the offensive front with 13 kills while Yandall had 11. Rylee Kiger was credited for 38 assists.
 
Match 2 – CSUDH 3, Westminster 1 (25-16, 17-25, 25-22, 25-13)
Westminster evened the match by winning the second set. It appeared the Griffins were about to run away in the third game after a 9-1 start. The Toros completed a late rally by scoring nine points to take a 22-21 lead. Three errors by the Griffins gave the Toros the set win.
 
The start of the fourth set was similar to the third only it was the Toros that took a 9-1 lead and had never looked back.
 
Yandall had 10 kills but was two digs shy from a double-double. Heins also had 10 points awarded to her while Nguyen made 17 defensive stops.
 
The Toros will make another trip to the Pacific Northwest only to Lacey, Washington for the annual D2 West Region Showcase, hosted by Saint Martin's. In a matchup featuring members of the GNAC and PacWest, the Toros will face Notre Dame de Namur Thursday at 5:30 p.m.