Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- It took a lot longer than most would have expected, and it gave many Biola fans a bit of a scare, but eventually No. 5 Biola defeated Westmont at home, 3-2 (25-13, 16-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-8).
 
The Eagles bookended the match by winning the first set and the last two, despite looking a slight bit off in the second and third frames. The Eagles' hitters got their work in tonight, thanks to some tremendous defense by the Warriors' back row.
 
Biola's middles, outside and right side hitters combined for a total of 164 attack attempts in the five-set match, second only to the 178 attempts the Eagles put forth in a win over Eastern Oregon earlier in the year.
 
"Westmont dominated on defense," said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. "We were crushing balls everywhere, but they were digging everything. It makes for a really frustrating time, because you don't get the points you thought you would, and then they get one good set and take advantage of it."
 
That is exactly what happened in the second and third sets, as Westmont used its stellar defense to gain attacking opportunities for itself and take advantage of an underperforming Biola back row.
 
Also missing from the Eagles' two lost sets was their ordinarily strong blocking play, which resulted in just four blocks for the team that averages more than 2.5 per set.
 
The Eagles' blockers got things back in line over the final two sets, and ultimately Biola ended with 13 total team blocks. Amy Weststeyn played a big role in that blocking game, as well as in a revitalized Eagles attack over the final two sets.
 
The senior middle blocker had a part in five blocks (2 solo, 3 assist) in the late going, making a huge difference, especially after Biola fell behind 16-12 in the fourth set. Alyssa Mason also tacked on two solo blocks to help in the comeback effort.
 
"At the end, we blocked a lot of balls that made a huge difference," said Seltzer. "Amy was huge. She ran into a few right when we needed them the most."
 
Headed into the fifth set, it seemed the Eagles had everything back in order after having to work for a close fourth set win. Biola had 40 attack attempts in the fourth set, more than any other set in the match.
 
The teams traded points for the first part of the fifth set, but Tess Van Grouw took over the serve at 3-3 and helped the Eagles go on a run to gain a 7-3 lead from which they never looked back.
 
"Finally at the end we hit enough balls in that we were able to loosen them up," said Seltzer. "Our girls did a great job at the end of playing the other team instead of trying to play themselves. It was a good, tough, mental test. It was a good lesson of how to really navigate a match, which we haven't had to do much of this year."
 
Weststeyn ended with a marquee match, attaining 21 kills, a .606 attack percentage and taking part in nine of Biola's 13 blocks.
 
Biola scrapes out this win to improve to 17-4 (7-1 GSAC), while the Warriors fall to 11-10 (4-4 GSAC). They are back in action Saturday at Hope International at 7:00 p.m.