BOX SCORE

SAN DIEGO --- Freshman middle blocker Rachel Buckley recorded 12 blocks and eight kills to lead Biola to a remarkable 25-16, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20 upset win over No. 9 Point Loma Nazarene in a GSAC match on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gymnasium in San Diego.

The win was the second-straight for the Eagles and third in their last four matches as they improve to 14-7 on the season. Biola finishes the first round of GSAC play with a 5-5 record. The Sea Lions fall to 15-5 and to 5-5 in conference play.

Buckley helped the Eagles as they blocked their way to the stunning victory--just the second Biola victory at Point Loma Nazarene in the last 11 years. Buckley's 12 blocks are the most by an Eagle player since rally scoring began in 1999. Biola's 18 total blocks are the fifth-most in school history and the most since the Eagles had 20 in 2000.

Junior middle blocker Tavea Hampton led the Eagles with 12 kills and recorded five blocks including two solo. She posted a .500 hitting percentage with 12 kills in 18 swings with just three errors.

Biola wasted little time jumping out to a quick lead in the first set. The Eagles built an early 10-1 lead thanks to four kills and four blocks. From there, the two teams exchanged points the rest of the set as Biola wrapped up a 25-16 win to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set, the Sea Lions snapped a 6-6 tie with a 7-2 run and closed out the set with an 8-2 run as they cruised to an easy 25-15 win to tie up the match.

The pivotal third match started out in Biola's favor as the Eagles jumped out to an early 6-2 lead. Biola still held a 14-11 lead nearing the midway point of the match before Point Loma Nazarene went on a long 10-3 run to take a commanding 21-17 lead. But all was not lost for the Eagles. After a timeout, Biola rattled off four-straight points to cut the lead to 21-20.

The Sea Lions responded with a pair of points to go up 23-20, but it wound up being the final points they would score in the set. A kill by Kim Russell got Biola the ball back and a pair of blocks gave the Eagles a 24-23 lead just a moment later. Russell would end the set with a big kill to give Biola the third set.

Biola opened the fourth set with another big lead, scoring seven of the first nine points. Point Loma Nazarene fought back with a long run to tie the score at 11-11. But it was all Biola from there as the Eagles used a 10-4 run to take a 21-15 advantage and held off a bit of a late charge to win the match.

Russell was playing in just her second match since returning from an injury which sidelined her for nearly a month. She finished the match with 10 kills and added five blocks to help the Eagles cause.

Biola played outstanding defense, holding Point Loma to a .082 attack percentage and forcing them to commit 33 attack errors overall. The Eagles hit .182, but added 72 digs to go along with their 18 blocks.

Biola returns home to begin the second part of the conference slate, hosting Hope International University at Chase Gymnasium on Tuesday (Oct. 13) beginning at 7:00 p.m