BOX SCORE

SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Despite 21 kills from junior Meghan Warkentin, No. 4-ranked Biola University was upset by No. 10 Point Loma Nazarene University 24-30, 30-23, 29-31, 30-16, 15-13 on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gymnasium in San Diego.

The loss drops the Eagles to 19-4 overall and 10-4 in GSAC play while the Sea Lions improve to 15-8 on the season and 7-7 in conference.

Warkentin had a team-high 21 kills and was one of four Biola players to register double-digit kills. But the story of the match was Point Loma's Melissa Boer, who had 26 kills and the Sea Lions' defense, which registered 17 blocks.

Things started out well for Biola as a late 12-5 run helped the Eagles roll to a 30-24 win in the first game. In game two, the Sea Lions struck back, using a 15-5 run to break a 7-7 tie to knot the match at a game apiece.

Game three was an impressive battle between the two teams. Biola took the first big lead, jumping out to a 13-9 lead before Point Loma used a 9-2 run to go back up 18-15. The Eagles slowly got back into the game and held a 28-25 lead before Point Loma fought back to tie the score at 29-29 on a kill by Boer. But back-to-back kills by Warkentin gave the Eagles the game, 31-29.

The Sea Lions did not go quietly, however, and dominated the Eagles to win the game four 30-16, closing out the game on a 13-4 run.

In game five, the two teams battled back and forth, with the score tied six different time, the last at 12-12. After a PLNU timeout, Jen Michaelson recorded the kill and followed by a Christy Dueck block to give the Sea Lions their first match-point.

Junior outside hitter Kelsey Mitchell pulled Biola back to within one with a big kill, but Point Loma capped the match with what the team had done all night: a block by Dueck and Connie Irwin to seal the deal.

Natalie Acklin led the PLNU block party, recording 10 assisted blocks while Boer and Irwin added five each. Michaelson added 16 kills and 34 digs while Zoe Beltz had 15 kills for the Sea Lions.

Biola received 14 kills from Mitchell, who also had six digs and a pair of blocks. Jessica Buffum added 13 kills and as many digs while middle blocker Kelsey Christoferson added 12 kills and five blocks.

Biola's pair of setters each recorded double-doubles, with junior Christina Perkins recording 32 assists and 23 digs while sophomore Abbie Wright added 28 assists and 18 digs.

The loss was the first five-game loss for the Eagles as they are now 4-1 on the season in matches that go more than three games. It was also the seventh straight loss for Biola at Golden Gymnasium, dating back to the 2000 season. Earlier this year, Biola pulled off a relatively easy sweep over Point Loma, winning 30-26, 31-29, 30-24.

Biola returns to action on Tuesday (Oct. 23), hosting Hope International University in a GSAC match at 7:00 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium.