BOX SCORE
COLUMBIA, Mo. --- Biola pulled out an exciting five-game match in front of a packed gym on Thursday night, defeating host Columbia College 30-22, 29-31, 30-22, 19-30, 15-12 in the final game of pool play at the 2007 NAIA National Championships.
The win puts the Eagles at 3-0 in pool play, clenching an automatic spot in the quarterfinals, which begin Friday afternoon. The Cougars, the No. 7 seed and host of the national tournament, drops to 1-2 in pool play and will be a part of a three-team, one-game playoff to determine the second team from Pool D to advance.
Despite a solid blocking effort by Columbia, Biola managed to hit .230 collectively. Junior outside hitter Meghan Warkentin hit an impressive .375, recording 26 kills. Junior middle blocker Kristen Peterson also had a strong night, hitting .353 with nine kills and six blocks, including two solo.
Columbia was outstanding at the net, recording 17 blocks and seemed to get a touch on nearly every attack attempt by the Eagles. Maria Omondi led the Cougars with 19 kills and 10 blocks while Daniela Brazolino added 16 kills.
Biola got off to a great start, jumping out to a 10-5 lead in game one before the Cougars rallied back to pull within two at 17-15. But the Eagles used an 8-3 run to take back their big advantage and cruised to the 30-22 victory.
In the second game, Biola fell behind 7-3 early on, but came back to tie the score at 8-8. After the teams exchanged points for a while, the Cougars took a 22-19 lead with a short run. The Eagles scored five quick points to take the lead back at 24-22 only to see it disappear just as quickly as Columbia use a five-point run to go back in front. The Eagles tied the score at 28, then again at 29 before the Cougars closed out the game with a kill by Juliana Quadrado and a Biola attack error to tie the match at 1-1.
The Eagles got back on track in game three. The Eagles went on an 11-5 run midway through the game to go up 20-15. The teams traded points for the next little while before junior outside hitter Jessica Buffum served five-straight points to help Biola cruise to the game three win.
The wheels came off for the Eagles in game four as they fell behind early 14-4 and never really got back into it. Columbia hit .471 in the game while Biola was held to just .074.
The Eagles took advantage of 11 errors by Columbia in the fifth game to take home the match. The Cougars seemed to wilt under the pressure, committing five service errors, three attack errors and three receiving errors. At one point, Columbia hit four straight serves into the net. Sophomore setter Abbie Wright served five straight points midway through the game which proved to be the difference as the Eagles held on for the win.
Biola's setters played well as Christina Perkins and Wright each contributed 25 and 29 assists, respectively. Buffum had 11 kills for the Eagles while McGill added 10.
Biola will play in the first quarterfinal match Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Southwell Complex against National American University SD. The Eagles defeated the with relative ease when the two teams did battle earlier this season in Irvine, winning 30-14, 30-16, 30-19.
Staff Writer Katie Stevens contributed to this article
