LA MIRADA, Calif. --- 2012 was one of the greatest seasons in the history of Biola Volleyball. The team was 31-5 overall, including a 12-2 mark in Golden State Athletic Conference play and an 11-2 mark inside Chase Gymnasium.
 
The team was anchored by four NAIA All-Americans and had five players with 150+ kills and one player with over 1,150 assists. The team made it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national semifinals and earned a trip to the university president's office.
 
So where can a team that experienced so much success a year ago go from here?
 
Up.
 
Last season the team made some great strides, yet they finished just behind conference favorite Concordia who experienced an undefeated season and won the NAIA national championship.
 
Good news for Biola is that they return three of their four All-Americans (Amy Weststeyn, Gracee Gallarda and Chelsee Arnitz), three of their five players with 150+ kills (Joclyn Kirton, Arnitz and Weststeyn) and their leading setter (Gallarda).
 
In addition, they return all five players who had 150+ digs(Alex Brehaut, Emily Weingartner, Charley Parker, Tara Rallis and Gallarda) and a player who started 33 matches and picked up 500+ assists two seasons ago (Nicolette Douglas).
 
Head Coach Aaron Seltzer also added a sophomore transfer from Pepperdine and two strong freshmen outside hitters adding to the depth of the roster.
 
The depth of the roster will allow Seltzer to expand his rotation and create better matchups against the top teams in the conference. Last season the Eagles finished second to Concordia, with The Master's, Westmont and Vanguard taking the third, fourth and fifth spots.
 
Moving up one notch in the conference would give Biola its first volleyball conference championship since 1997. Despite the lack of conference championships, the team has qualified for the NAIA national tournament each of the previous six seasons. Prior to this stretch, Biola's longest string of national appearances was three years (1997-99).
 
Seltzer is entering his 12^th season as the head coach of the program and his 289 wins are just 33 shy of the all-time coaching record, currently held by Robin Davis who coached the team from 1987-88 and 1991-1998.
 
The Eagles open their season on Thursday at the Biola Volleyball/Red Lion Hotel-Anaheim Summer Slam tournament. They play four games at the tournament over the course of Thursday and Friday.
 
Conference play opens up on Sept. 21 at home against The Master's and ends with a home match against Concordia Nov. 16.