SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The No. 18-ranked Biola volleyball team battled back from 2-1 deficit to force a fifth game, but eventually fell to No. 13 Point Loma in a thriller, 22-30, 30-25, 30-24, 23-30, 15-10 Saturday night in San Diego.

The two teams entered the night tied for fifth place in the ever-difficult Golden State Athletic Conference. Point Loma, however, moved past the Eagles and sit at 13-3 overall and 5-3 in GSAC play. The Eagles fall to 10-6 and 4-4.

After winning the first game with relative ease, Biola struggled in games two and three, hitting just .188 in the second game and a respectable .277 in the third.

The Eagles were not finished, though, and battled back to even the match with a dominating performance in their game-four victory.

A kill by outside hitter Kelsey Mitchell gave Biola a 9-7 lead in the decisive game and it looked as though the Eagles may just pull the game out.

But the Sea Lions closed out the match by scoring eight of the next nine points to take the victory.

The Sea Lions' Kate Alderson had a match-high 31 kills to lead the way for Point Loma.

Biola received a team-high 25 kills from sophomore Meghan Scheenstra and 20 kills from fellow sophomore Kelsey Mitchell.

Mitchell had a particularly strong night, swinging at a .415 clip while committing just three errors.

Libero Katie Stevens had a season-best 33 dig effort for Biola and freshman setter Abbie Wright had 54 assists and 13 digs.

Biola returns home this week for a Tuesday (Oct. 3) evening match against GSAC foe Hope International at Chase Gymnasium at 7 p.m.