Box Score SIOUX CITY, IA --- Biola got off to a slow start, but quickly put it all together and wound up with a dominating win, beating Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) 25-23, 25-13, 25-17 in its first match of the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championship tournament on Tuesday at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Eagles improve to 28-4 on the season and move to 1-0 in pool play while dropping the Blue Raiders to 29-13 and to 0-1 in Pool D.
Biola's middle blockers led the way as sophomore Amy Weststeyn recorded 12 kills and had two blocks with junior Chelsee Arnitz adding 11 kills and four blocks. The two combined to hit .528.
"I thought we got off to a really slow start," said Biola Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. "It's hard the first match because everybody's got some nerves. We've got three freshman that played some pretty significant roles so they are always slow at adjusting. We stayed disciplined against a good team that plays a different style than we are used to playing against and they did a very good job of responding well and working hard."
The Eagles got off to a rocky start and had trouble pulling away in the first set. Biola quickly opened up a 7-3 lead in the set but saw the Blue Raiders charge back with a four-point run to tie it. Biola responded with a 5-1 run to go back up 13-8. Again Lindsey Wilson responded with a 6-1 run to tie it back up at 14-14.
The teams went back and forth over the next few points until Lindsey Wilson used a quick 4-1 run to take its first lead and go up 22-20. Biola got a side out with a kill by Arnitz, then tied the score and took the lead on back-to-back aces by freshman Chrissy Cunningham. Arnitz added another kill and the Eagles had set point at 24-22.
After a service error gave the ball back to the Blue Raiders, Arnitz closed out the set with yet another big kill to give Biola the set at 25-23.
The Eagles rode that momentum into the second set and quickly opened a 6-0 lead. After exchanging points, Biola went on a 6-1 run and held a 13-4 advantage. The Lindsey Wilson closed the gap with a couple of quick points to make it 14-6, but Biola then rattled off eight-straight points to take a commanding 22-6 lead. The Blue Raiders outscored the Eagles 7-3 the rest of the way, but Biola held on for the 25-13 win.
The Eagles again opened up the third set with a nice run, taking an early 7-1 lead in the set. However, Lindsey Wilson was not ready to go away and eventually pulled within one at 10-9 thanks to an 8-3 run. Biola ended the run with a kill by Joclyn Kirton which started a five-point run as the Eagles started to pull away. The Blue Raiders got no closer than four the rest of the way as Biola won 25-17 to take the match.
Senior outside hitter Christine Douglas had 11 kills in the match, putting her over the 1,400-kill plateau for her career. She is one of just seven Biola players to reach that mark and one of two to do it in three seasons with the program. Fellow senior Nicolette Mather had four kills to move her to 995 career kills.
Junior libero Tara Rallis played solid defense, recording 13 digs and even adding two kills. Sophomore defensive specialist Charley Parker also had 13 digs for the Eagles.
Junior setter Gracee Gallarda had a match-high 37 assists, adding four kills, seven digs, three blocks and one ace.
Sierra Wilkerson had a team-high nine kills for Lindsey Wilson with Taylor Hayne adding eight kills and Kailey Moorehead contributing seven. The Blue Raiders are making their first appearance at the NAIA National Tournament final site.
Biola plays its second of three pool play matches on Wednesday, taking on No. 17 Missouri Baptist University at 1:00 p.m. CT (11:00 a.m. PT).
