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Box Score 2 LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola opened play at its 2012 Biola University/Red Lion Hotel-Anaheim Summer Slam with a pair of dominating victories, sweeping No. 7 Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) and College of Idaho on Thursday at Chase Gymnasium.
The Eagles (5-1) crushed the Battlin' Bears in a Top 10 matchup, sweeping them by a score of 25-8, 25-14, 25-10. They followed that up with a big victory over the Yotes, winning 25-19, 25-17, 25-21. (College of Idaho likely would have been ranked in the Top 10, but its conference ranker missed a deadline and was not included in the preseason poll.)
Chelsee Arnitz had a near-perfect day, recording 18 kills in 25 swings (.720 attack percentage) with no errors including an incredible 11 kills in 12 swings in the win over Rocky Mountain. Arnitz' .917 attack percentage in that match is the highest by a Biola player since rally scoring began. The school record which requires a minimum of 20 attacks came in 2003 when Michelle Warkentin recorded 17 kills in 22 attacks with no errors for a .773 attack percentage.
Her lone attack that didn't go down for a kill in the match by Arnitz, she hit off the top of the net, into the air where it was sent back over by RMC. Setter Gracee Gallarda then went back to the junior who finished the play with a big kill. She followed that match up with seven kills in 13 attacks against College of Idaho.
Senior outside hitter Christine Douglas led the Eagles with 23 kills with sophomore middle blocker Amy Weststeyn adding 21 kills. Senior Nicolette Mather added 17 kills and a team-best eight blocks.
In the first match, Biola jumped out to an early lead, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the match, recording kills on each of its first nine swings. The Eagles would then close out the set by scoring the final eight points to win 25-8.
After taking an early lead in the second, the Eagles watched as Rocky Mountain closed the gap to one at 10-9. But Biola rattled off eight-straight points again and ended up closing out the set on a 15-5 run.
The Eagles then broke an 8-8 tie in the third set by going on an 9-0 run and eventually closing out the match with a 25-10 win.
Four Biola players each had 11 kills in the set led by Arnitz' kills in 12 attacks. She also had a team-best four blocks. Weststeyn had 11 kills in 19 swings, adding two blocks while Mather had 11 kills in 16 swings and three blocks.
Gallarda got in on the action with two kills, eight digs, two blocks, two aces and a match-high 43 assists.
The second match of the day was closer, but still ended in a Biola victory. The Eagles broke open a back and forth first set with a 7-0 run to take a 15-8 lead. The Yotes would close the gap to four late in the contest, but Biola would hold on for the 25-19 win.
In the second set, the Eagles jumped out to a quick 7-1 led behind two kills and a block by Weststeyn. College of Idaho would close the gape to three and the team went back and forth a bit before Biola slowly pulled away and took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-17 win.
The third set was the closest of the day for the Eagles. College of Idaho took the early lead with a quick 5-1 run and led 11-6 after an ace. Biola responded with five-straight points and the teams went back-and-forth the rest of the way.
The Eagles trailed 16-15 at one point close to the middle of the set, but behind strong serving by Gallarda, Biola went on a 6-0 run to take control of the set. The Yotes closed to two with a short run, but could get no closer as the Eagles held on for the 25-21 win.
Douglas recorded 12 kills and four digs while Weststeyn added 10 kills and five blocks including one solo. Mather also had five blocks with six kills. Gallarda just missed a double-double with 32 assists and nine digs.
Biola takes on another NAIA Top 10 team on Friday, facing No. 8 Lewis-Clark State at 4:30 p.m. before closing out the tournament at 8:30 p.m. against William Jessup University.
