LA MIRADA, Calif. --- An old sports cliche says: “In order to be the best you have to beat the best.” Based on the schedule set up by Biola Volleyball Head Coach Aaron Seltzer for the upcoming season, the Eagles are giving themselves numerous opportunities to “be the best.”

Of the 34 contests on Biola's 2007 schedule, 12 matches come against teams in the 2006 NAIA National Championship field including seven against teams which reached the NAIA final four.

While three of the final four teams are fellow members of the always-tough Golden State Athletic Conference, it was National American University from South Dakota that took home the National Championship. The Eagles geat a chance to square off against the Mavericks in what should be a great match on September 28 at Concordia-Irvine.

The Eagles' season opens in familiar fashion with trips to Fresno and Irvine for non-conference tournaments. While the schedule for the Fresno Pacific Invitational has yet to be released, the lineup for Irvine has Biola taking on Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) and Albertson College (Idaho) on the first day. Both teams reached the NAIA National Tournament in 2006 with Albertson earning a spot in the quarterfinals.

For the first time in recent memory, Biola will participate in a mid-season tournament, traveling to Michigan to play in the Crusader Classic hosted by Madonna University on Oct. 26-27. At the tournament, the Eagles will see another national tournament qualifier in Lee University (Tenn.) on the second day.

Biola's home opener is also its GSAC opener as the Eagles host Vanguard University on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Chase Gymnasium. In addition to the 10 regularly scheduled GSAC home matches, the Eagles have added a non-conference home contest to the schedule, hosting Bryan College (Tenn.) on Oct. 15. Bryan finished second to Lee University in the Appalachian Athletic Conference last season and narrowly missed out on a berth in the NAIA Playoffs. 

The complete 2007 schedule is available by clicking here.