After opening the Pro Volleyball Federation season with a 3-0 loss to the Orlando Valkyries in Florida, the San Diego Mojo hoped their home opener at Viejas Arena Thursday would bring a different result.
While the match in southern California resulted in a closer overall contest, the Mojo still fell to the same Orlando team, this time 3-1.
The first set was won by Orlando, and the Valkyries had the lead almost the entire set, but it was a close two-point win for Orlando in the end.
San Diego responded with a strong set two win, as they took a 15-14 lead and maintained control to even up the match at 1-1.
The third and fourth set were more like the first. Orlando took an early lead and held on for two comfortable set wins in a row to take the match.
Maya Tabron led San Diego with 15 kills on the night, while Kendra Dahlke had 14 kills. Ronika Stone, who was named to the PVF Preseason All-League Team, had eight total points, including a block and seven kills.
The star of the night on either side was Orlando’s Anae Adora, who totaled 27 kills in the Valkyries win.
Both teams entered at 1-1. The Mojo will hit the road once again to face the Omaha Supernovas in Nebraska at 1 p.m. PST Sunday.
The Mojo was purchased last fall by longtime San Diegan and UC San Diego alum Gary E. Jacobs, a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School and managing director of Jacobs Investment Company.
