AZUSA, Calif. --- Biola opened the 2011 season by splitting a pair of matches at the Azusa Pacific Cougar Classic, defeating Concordia University (Ore.) 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 after losing earlier in the day to No. 18 Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) 25-21, 26-24, 25-11 on Friday.
The Eagles (1-1) were led by junior outside hitter
Christine Douglas, who had 19 kills on the day, with sophomore newcomer
Chelsee Arnitz adding 18--nine in each match.
In the second match of the day, Biola had a tough time pulling away from the Cavaliers (3-1) through the first set as Concordia stayed close throughout. With the score tied at 20-20, the Eagles finally started to pull away as Arnitz and freshman
Rachel Krueger recorded back-to-back kills, then combined on a block to make it 23-20. Concordia pulled back to within one with a quick two-point run, but a service error gave the ball back to the Eagles who ended it on a block by
Rachel Buckley and Douglas.
In the second, Biola started to get into a rhythm, using a five-point run to go up 10-6 in the early going. Sophomore
Nicolette Douglas recorded three aces over the span of four serves to key the run. Concordia rallied back to within two at 17-15, but Biola responded by scoring eight of the final 10 points of the set to go up 2-0 in the match.
Biola was in complete control of the third set from the outset, opening with a 7-1 run and leading 21-11 late in the set. Facing match point, Concordia rattled off six-straight points before a kill by Krueger ended it.
Arnitz and
Christine Douglas had nine kills apiece to lead the way for Biola while
Sarah McAtee recovered from a frustrating opening match with seven kills in the night-cap. The Eagles recorded 10 blocks in the match including five from freshman middle blocker
Amy Weststeyn, who had one solo and four assists.
Biola struggled mightily in its season-opening match against an impressive Rocky Mountain (4-0) squad, which swept its second NAIA Top 10 team in four matches this week. The Bears, who had three matches under their belts already, took advantage of an Eagle squad playing its first of the young season.
The Eagles fell behind early as Rocky Mountain used a 10-2 run to open up a 15-7 lead midway through the first set. Biola began to come alive after that, scoring 11 of the next 16 points to close the gap to two at 20-18. But the Bears held strong and held the lead the rest of the way to hold on to a 25-21 victory.
BIola again gave up a long run early in the second set, falling behind 15-10 after leading 8-5. The Eagles again rallied with a long 12-7 run to tie the score at 22-22. Rocky Mountain scored the next two points to set up set point, but Biola answered back with two of their own thanks to a kill and solo block by Weststeyn. However, it was the Bears who got the last laugh, recording back-to-back kills to take the second set 26-24.
Things went from bad to worse for the Eagles after that as Rocky Mountain dominated the final set, outscoring Biola 18-4 over the middle of the set and cruising to the 25-11 win.
Biola wraps up the season-opening tournament against No. 19 Oklahoma Baptist University and Eastern Oregon University at 10:00 am and 2:15 pm, respectively on Saturday.
