LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Sophomores
Nicolette Mather and
Christine Douglas combined for 22 kills to pace Biola to a 26-24, 25-21, 25-22 victory over The Master's College in a GSAC match on Saturday afternoon at Chase Gymnasium.
The Eagles improve to 21-5 on the season and move to 12-2 in GSAC play while the Mustangs drop to 7-16 and to 2-12 in conference.
Mather had 12 kills on just one error in 20 swings for a .550 attack percentage to pace the Biola attack. Douglas added 10 kills.
Biola had an impressive hitting match, but couldn't seem pull away from a tough Mustang squad. In the first set, the teams went back and forth with 14 ties and 10 lead changes. The Eagles looked to take control late in the set as four-straight attack errors by The Master's gave Biola a 21-18 lead. Biola still led 23-21 a few points later, but saw the Mustangs rattle off three-straight points to set up game point at 24-23. The Eagles staved off that point with a kill by Douglas, then scored the next two to survive the set.
Biola jumped out to a big lead in the second set, using a nine-point run to take a 13-5 lead. The Master's slowly cut into the lead and after an ace by Jillian Anderson, pulled within two at 21-19. But after a timeout the Eagles got the ball back on a service error and exchanged points the rest of the way to win 25-21.
The Master's got the jump on the Eagles in the third set going up 11-8. Biola came back with four-straight points to take a 13-12 lead , but saw the Mustangs go back on top with a quick 4-1 run. The Eagles responded with a five-point run to go on top and did not trail again the rest of the way.
Biola posted a .310 attack percentage, recording 42 kills and only six errors. In the second set, the Eagles had 15 kills in 36 swings with no errors.
Biola now begins a difficult week, playing three teams in the NAIA Top 10. The week begins against arch-rival and No. 8-ranked Azusa Pacific University on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The Eagles then host No. 5 Texas-Brownsville in a non-conference matchup at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday before ending the difficult week at No. 6 California Baptist on Saturday.
