BOX SCORE

COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Despite cruising to wins in the first two games of the match, Biola University had to hang on for a 30-24, 30-11, 22-30, 26-30, 15-13 win over Vanguard University in a Golden State Athletic Conference volleyball match on Thursday night at The Pit in Costa Mesa.

The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the latest NAIA National poll, are now 17-3 overall and improve to 9-3 in the GSAC. The No. 15-ranked Lions drop to 10-6 on the season and 4-7 in conference.

Biola was led by junior Maggie McGill who had the best hitting night of any Eagle player this season. She recorded 13 kills in 17 swings while committing just one error, posting a .706 attack percentage in the match.

The Eagles also received 12 kills and four blocks from junior Jessica Buffum, who lead the team to victory with big plays down the stretch in game five.

The Eagles took quick control in game one, using a 12-3 run to break a 9-9 tie en route to a 30-24 win. Biola absolutely dominated Vanguard in the second game, jumping out to a 24-7 lead and cruising to an easy 30-11 win. The Eagles hit an impressive .520 for the game while holding the Lions to a -.091 attack percentage.

However the tone of the match changed in the third game as Vanguard came alive, opening the game on a 7-4 run and stretching it out to a 17-10 lead halfway through. The Eagles would not get any closer as the Lions continued to pull away and eventually win 30-22.

It appeared as though Biola might rebound with a win in the fourth game leading 23-18 late in the game. But the Lions went on a 12-3 run and tied up the match with a 30-26 win.

Vanguard used the momentum from the big win to open the fifth game with a 5-2 lead. Biola then used a short run to game at 8-8. After the teams traded points, Vanguard got a kill by Kim Wynn to go up 11-10. But the Eagles tied the score on a kill by Buffum, took their first lead on the next serve thanks to a Vanguard error, then went up 13-11 on another kill by Buffum.

The Lions pulled to 13-12 on a kill by Wynn and knotted the score at 13-13 on an ace, but Buffum again gave Biola the lead with another kill, then combined with middle blocker Kristen Peterson for the match-ending block.

Peterson had a strong night as well for the Eagles, recording seven kills in 10 attacks without committing an error. She also added five of Biola's 11 blocks in the match.

Meghan Warkentin finished with 11 kills and 10 digs for Biola while junior setter Christina Perkins added 23 assists and 13 digs.

Wynn led Vanguard with 21 kills, 12 digs and four blockshwile Kelsey Wirt added 12 kills and 23 digs.

Biola returns to the court on Monday (Oct. 15), hosting Bryan College (Tenn.) in an non-conference match at 7:00 p.m. in Chase Gymnasium.