LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola battled back from a deficit and won the final three matches to defeat Pacific Lutheran University 5-4 in a non-conference match on Saturday afternoon at the Biola Tennis Center.

The Eagles improve to 3-13 on the season while the Lutes fall to 6-4.

The match was a close one throughout with a number of tightly-contested matches. In doubles play, all three matches were tight with Biola opening with a win at No. 1 as Kathryn Asford and Susan Carmichael teamed up for an 8-4 win.

The other two doubles matches were close but both went the way of the Lutes as PLU pulled away late to win 8-6 and take a 2-1 lead to singles play.

A quick win by Pacific Lutheran at No. 2 doubles made it 3-1, but Ashford followed closed the gap with a 6-2, 6-1 win just a few minutes later to make it 3-2. But again the Lutes pulled away with a win at No. 6 singles despite a strong second set by Patricia Ling, who lost 6-0, 6-4. That game PLU a 4-2 lead and just one win from taking the match.

Susan Carmichael came up with a big 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles. Olivia Koelsch took her first set 6-3 at No. 3 singles, but fell behind 2-3 in the second. However she rallied back and took the set 6-4 to tie the match at 4-4.

The match hinged on what proved to be an entertaining No. 5 singles match between Lauren Vogel and PLU's Catherine Miolla. Vogel took the first set 7-6, but lost the second 6-3 to force a thrilling third set. Vogel faced a pair of match points, trailing 40-15 and 5-4 in the third, but saved the two and went on to win the next three games to take the third set 7-5 and give Biola the win.

"Pacific Lutheran was honest and fought hard," said Head Coach Dee Henry. "God blesses with a little 'w.' Our players have worked hard!"

Biola returns to action on Tuesday, taking on Hope International in a GSAC match beginning at 2:00 p.m. The match will be played at Biola due to a schedule issue which prevented Hope from playing on its normal "home" court.