BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. --- No. 4-ranked Biola continued its undefeated start to the 2008 season with a 25-12, 25-13, 25-21 sweep over Holy Names University in a non-conference match on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles remain perfect at 10-0 after the win in their final tune-up before the start of conference play next week. The Hawks fall to 1-4 on the season.
Senior outside hitter Meghan Warkentin led a balanced attack for Biola recording 10 kills on the night. However, there were 11 Eagles with at least two kills as the team posted 44 overall and hit .363 for the match.
Biola had little trouble through the first two sets. In the first, Holy Names used a quick three-point run to pull to within two at 9-7. The Eagles would shake off the rust, though, and out-scored the Hawks 16-5 the rest of the way. The streak would continue into the second set as Biola opened with an 11-2 run and never looked back.
In the third set, the two teams battled back and forth through the first part of the set until Biola broke an 11-11 tie with three straight points. The Eagles would extend their lead with with a 7-2 run a few points later and held off a late rally by Holy Names to win the set 25-21.
Sophomore middle blocker Tavea Hampton had a strong match, seeing her first real action of the season after being sidelined early by an injury. She recorded four kills in six attacks and added four blocks.
The Eagles' setting tandem of senior Christina Perkins and junior Abbie Wright combined for 32 assists with Perkins posting 18 and adding four digs and Wright recording 14 with five digs.
Biola's opening stretch of 10-straight wins is the sixth-best start to a season. The school record came in 1996 when the Eagles started the season 23-0 and finished 30-5, reaching the NAIA National Semifinals.
Biola begins Golden State Athletic Conference play on Thursday (Sept. 11) with a trip to Vanguard University for a 7:00 p.m. match. The GSAC, known as the best volleyball conference in the NAIA, currently has seven of its 11 teams in the NAIA Top 25 including six in the top 10.
