BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola played another strong match against one the NAIA's best teams, but ultimately lost its regular-season finale 30-28, 30-27, 25-30, 30-28 to No. 2 California Baptist in a GSAC match on Saturday night at Chase Gymnasium.
The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the latest NAIA National Poll, wrap up the regular season with a 27-6 overall record and a 14-6 mark in GSAC play. The Lancers improve to 25-3 overall and 18-2 in the conference. Biola ends the season win fourth place in the GSAC while Cal Baptist finishes in second place.
Leading the way for the Eagles was junior outside hitter Meghan Warkentin who had 20 kills and added two blocks and three digs. Sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Christoferson had 10 kills and just one error with seven blocks.
However, Cal Baptist's Verania Willis led all players with 35 kills and added 13 digs while Yudelka Bonilla and Shi Fei added 16 kills apiece.
The two teams battled back and forth though all four games with late runs giving the winning team its final edge. In the first game, there were 16 ties and eight lead changes through out with a block by Christoferson and junior outside hitter Maggie McGill at 28-28. But Cal Baptist got the last lead change, with Willis recording the game-winner on a big kill.
Cal Baptist took a 14-10 lead midway through game two, but the Eagles rallied back and took control at 23-21. Cal Baptist then rattled off five straight points to go up 25-23. The teams then exchanged points until a block by Colleen Sweeney and Kayla Van Duyn gave the Lancers a 30-27 win.
Biola jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in game three and never looked back. The Eagles extended their lead to as many as six at 19-13 before settling for the 30-25 win.
In game four, the teams again battled back and forth with Cal Baptist taking the first lead at 6-4 before a 8-2 run gave the Eagles a 12-8 lead. The Lancers eventually tied the score at 15-15. The teams traded points down the stretch with the score again tied at 28-28. Once again, it was Cal Baptist scoring the final two points, the first on a kill by Willis, the second on a questionable four-touch call on the Eagles to end the thrilling match.
Prior to the match, the Eagles honored their three seniors who were playing in their final regular-season games at Chase Gymnasium. They are Dani Aigaki, Caroline Rutenbar and Brittany Wing. Despite playing with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus, Wing was able to play in her final collegiate home game, making the start and serving the first serve of the match.
The postseason begins on Tuesday (Nov. 13) as the Eagles begin the NAIA Region II Playoffs with a first-round home game at 7:00 p.m. Biola will likely host arch-rival Azusa Pacific University in a match with the winner securing a trip to the NAIA National Championships and the loser's season ending. Final pairings will be announced on Sunday.
