The Dominican University women's volleyball team dropped their first match of the 2016 season, falling to the St. Xavier University Cougars in three sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) in the Igini Sports Forum on Thursday evening.
 
"We did a lot of really good things," said Jeanne Czipri, the Stars' head coach beginning her third season. "We are still trying to figure out our best line ups and starting roles with some kids coming back from injury.  We need to work on connecting our offense and executing our game plan."
 
The Stars had opened a 19-16 lead in the first set before St. Xavier roared back, rattling off a 9-3 run to close out the first set.  The Cougars carried the moment into the second set, rolling over the Stars before Dominican tried to stave off defeat in the third set, opening a 14-12 lead before the Cougars scored five straight points and never trailed the remainder of the night.
 
"Our girls are still trying to figure out who they are," said Czipri, "and in those late game moments we got to find out who is going to step up into more demanding roles."
 
The Stars, hitting .119 as a team in the losing effort, were led by Becky Dent and Rosalyn Wyse who knocked down eight kills apiece while Alex Kisten added five kills and Jackie Mursuli collected 16 assists.  In the back row, Audrey Wyse totaled a match-high 17 digs.
 
Dominican, now 0-1 on the season, will return to the court on Saturday, heading to the University of Chicago for the 2016 Gargoyle Classic where the Stars will face the Millikin University Big Blue and UW-Eau Claire Blugolds.