SIOUX CITY, Iowa --- After storming out to a two-set lead, Biola had to hang on for a big 25-19, 25-15, 17-25, 17-25, 15-9 victory over GSAC foe Concordia University to advance to the Quarterfinals at the 2010 NAIA National Championship tournament on Friday morning at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Biola improves to 28-9 on the season and advances to the quarterfinals to face No. 2 Texas-Brownsville at 8:00 p.m. (CST). Concordia ends its season at 24-10 and fails to make the semifinals for the first time in five years.

Sophomore outside hitter Christine Douglas had a solid match,  recording a match-high 21 kills and posting a .364 attack percentage, adding three blocks. Fellow sophomore Nicolette Mather added 12 kills and hit .290 to pace Biola.

Biola got off to a quick start in the first set, roaring out to an early 8-2 lead.  Concordia would pull back to within four at 10-6 but Biola answered back with a 9-4 run of its own to take a commanding 19-10 lead. Concordia would cut the score to 22-17 a bit later but could get no closer as Biola hald on for a 25-19 win.

In the second set, the match went back and forth through the first half. Biola trailed 11-10 before erupting for a 14-2 run to take a commanding 24-13 lead and took care of business with a 25-15 to go up 2-0.

But Concordia started to come back in the third. After Biola jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the early going, Concordia used a 12-2 run to take a commanding 18-12 lead. Biola could not get much going offensively after that, though as CUI held on for the 25-17 win.

Concordia kept the momentum going to start the fourth set, opening with a 9-3 run. The teams exchanged points for a while until Biola cut into the lead with a brief run to make it 19-14. But it was too little, too late as Concordia won the set and forced a fifth set.

In the fifth, Biola came our firing on all cylinders, starting off with a 8-3 lead four kills by Mather.  After exchanging points, Biola would earn match-point on a Concordia error. After CUI successfully fought off the point twice, Biola finally ended the match with a monster kill by Douglas.

Biola hit .224 in the match and didn't have terribly great numbers until the fifth set when the Eagles hit .429, recording 11 kills in 21 swings with just two errors. Biola also outblocked Concordia for the first time in a long time at 8-3. 

Both Biola setters recorded double-doubles with freshman Gracee Gallarda having 29 assists and 13 digs while senior Abbie Wright had 16 assists and 14 digs.

Freshman libero Emily Weingartner had a strong match, posting 24 digs and adding a rare kill.

Concordia was led by Amber Ridens, who had 19 kills and 15 digs, but also had 10 attack errors in 61 swings.