SIOUX CITY, Iowa --- Outside hitter Kim Russell recorded 12 kills while outside hitter Nicolette Mather and Kelsey Christoferson added 10 each, but it was not enough as Biola fell 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 25-12 to Indiana Tech in a pool play match at the 2009 NAIA Volleyball National Championships on Tuesday night.

The Eagles, the No. 10 seed in the tournament field, fall to 22-10 overall with the loss, just their third in their last 13 matches. The Warriors, ranked No. 17 in the final NAIA poll but not seeded in the tournament field, improve to 34-8 overall.

Despite the trio in double-figures in kills for Biola, the team did not hit well overall, posting a .123 attack percentage and committing 28 attack errors. On the other side, Indiana Tech posted a .216 attack percentage and added 10 blocks and 74 digs.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair with the two teams trading runs through the first half. The Eagles led 13-10 as the teams neared the midway point, but the Warriors rattled off a 5-0 run to take back the lead, then stretched it to three moments later at 19-16. Biola fought back and tied the score at 20-20 on a Mather kill, but the Warriors responded with a quick three-points to go up 23-20. Biola pulled within two late at 24-23, but a kill by Ashley Hamilton wrapped up the set in the favor of Indiana Tech.

In the second, Biola again held an early lead, taking a 9-6 lead on a block by Russell and Tavea Hampton. The Warriors would repsond with a long 8-1 run to take a 14-10 lead and not look back. Biola would get no closer than three the rest of the way as Indiana Tech cruised to the 25-18 victory. 

After falling behind by two games, the Eagles came out with a vengance, opening the set with an early 7-3 lead and never trailing. The Warriors were able to cut the lead to one at 18-17, the Eagles came out with four-straight points to go up 22-17. Biola would put the set away with a kill by Mather to pull within one set at 2-1.

However, Indiana Tech came out firing in the fourth set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead. The Eagles managed to pull within two at 10-8 on back-to-back kills by Russell. But that would pretty much be it for Biola as the Warriors closed out the match by outscoring the Eagles 15-4 the rest of the way to win easily 25-12.

Hamilton led the Warriors with 15 kills, committing just two errors in 46 attacks for a .283 attack percentage. Samantha Larson added 11 kills and four blocks. 

Katie Stevens played strong defense for the Eagles, recording 17 digs and adding a pair of assists and an ace. Christian Woodruff also had an impressive match, contributing 16 digs.

Biola returns to action on Wednesday for the second of three pool play matches, taking on Shawnee State University at 3:45 p.m. PT.