LA MIRADA, Calif. --- This fall the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics honored nearly 2,000 of its student-athletes with Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition for their work outside of the athletic arena.
 
Biola's five fall sports had 20 student-athletes selected as NAIA Scholar-Athletes based on their performance in the classroom. This large contingent of student-athletes met the requirement to earn the distinction by being either a junior or senior and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above.
 
All five of these fall athletic programs earned berths into their NAIA National Tournaments/Championship fields in what was also a record-setting fall in the athletic arena.
 
Women's Cross Country finished third overall at their national meet and led the way with eight student-athletes selected as Scholar-Athletes. Brooke Arvidson, Megan Callender, Lyndee Dawson, Anika Gasner, Kellian Hunt, Hannah Jossi, Ilima Kung and Sarah Pfaff each represented with the national honor. Hunt, Gasner and Dawson earn the prestigious academic honor in a season where they each also earned All-American status and Hunt won the individual national championship.
 
Brandon Berz represented the men's cross country team with his first career honor.
 
Biola Volleyball made a run to the national quarterfinals at this year's NAIA National Tournament and the team also is loaded with five NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Four of the team's seniors earned the academic honor and its only junior also was recognized. The four seniors were Alex Brehaut, Crissy Cunningham, Lauren Hoenecke and Alyssa Mason, and Olivia Sorensen earned the recognition in her first year eligible.
 
Both soccer teams made their respective national tournament fields after fantastic seasons where they both earned at least a share of the Golden State Athletic Conference championship. The two teams made the top-16 in the nation after earning opening round wins to advance to the NAIA National Championship final site.
 
Six student-athletes from the soccer programs earned Scholar-Athlete status. Cristhian Aparicio, John Hanscom, True Tamplin and Stephen Tanquary represented Head Coach Todd Elkins' men's team, while Jessie Burns and Mariah Ziemer were honored on the women's side.
 
Biola's 20 fall NAIA Scholar-Athletes leads all GSAC institutions. Vanguard had the next most with 18 total honorees.