Looking to keep their eight-game winning streak alive, De Anza College’s volleyball team acted as the overly gracious host, letting the the squad of Chabot College accomplish what the past nine teams have not been able to do.
Give the Dons a loss.
    In front of an estimated crowd of 65 spectators the Dons began game one on par with the Gladiators but began to slip mid game and ultimately fall 27-30.
Despite the loss, the Dons remained composed and applied pressure from the offset of the second game. The Dons set the stage for a back and forth game winning 30-25.
    In the third the Gladiators defense stonewalled the Dons leaving them unable to recover from and early 3-0 deficit and in the end losing 24-30. In the fourth, both teams picked up the pace, trading points until De Anza roared ahead after tying the game at 21.
    The next four rallies went to the Dons giving them a cushion that the Gladiators couldn?t overcome despite a three point run ending one tally short. The Dons? claimed five of the final six rallies and ending the set 30-25 tying the match at two wins a piece.
    A notable performance in the fourth by the Dons’ Kari Saltzman, who despite the blistering fast pace kept her team stocked with precise sets making spikes over the net plentiful and unpredictable for the Gladiators to match. Chabot dominated the first half of the shorten fifth set jumping ahead 4-8.
    Despite a Dons rally to tie it at 11, the final score favored Chabot ending the two hour match 15-13. The Nov. 10 matchup was the second of two games these teams faced each other. On Oct. 22 the Dons traveled to Hayward and did battle with the Gladiators winning in three straight sets.
    As of Nov. 11 the Dons are 9-1 in conference and remain in control of their division with an overall record of 9-6. This final game of the regular season will take place on Wednesday against Canada College at 6:30 p.m. in the main gym.