CENTER VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy opened up their 2017 season at the DeSales University Invitational on Friday, but fell in two matches, one to the host Bulldogs (25-11, 25-20, 25-9) and the other to Washington College (25-13, 25-13, 25-17).

Tomorrow they'll get back at it with a pair of matches featuring Rutgers-Camden at 10 a.m. and Baruch at noon.

In the day's first contest, Abreeanna Bisenius and Rainah Dunham each had a team-high five kills while rookie Cait Saalfrank collected a match-high 13 digs.

After DSU took the first set, Gwynedd broke a 14-14 tie in the second with three points in a row. But the hosts countered with seven-straight of their own and would hold off a 23-20 lead with two more points to take down set #2.

Bisenius was also notched five kills against Washington College, a team high, while Saalfrank had top dig honors with 19.

The matches also mark the debut of new head coach Kristen Johnson.