Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola got on a roll last night with a 3-0 win over No. 18 College of Idaho, and all they did was pick up speed even more in an impressive 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-21, 25-10) victory over No. 7 Midland early Thursday afternoon.
It was evident following the first set that the momentum the Eagles picked up in their nightcap on Thursday was still in full force this afternoon. Biola forced eight attacking errors from Midland in the first frame en route to their convincing first set win.
Alyssa Mason picked up three kills and a block in the first set, helping her to another stellar performance. She ended the day with 10 kills, giving her four straight double-digit matches, and she took part in two blocks. She also served up three points to Midland off service errors.
"Alyssa played very, very well today. She was super efficient," said Head Coach
Aaron Seltzer. "She did a great job of attacking, but also saving balls and keeping them in play for us."
Errors were a big obstacle for both teams throughout the match, as there was a combined 66 errors committed throughout the four sets. Serving was a big issue, as both teams notched a not-so-impressive display of double-digit erring.
A huge string of points in the middle of the second set was key to the Warriors' come-from-behind convincing second set steal. Midland rattled off 10 consecutive points with KC Heimann on the serve. That string put the Warriors within three points of clinching the set, which they did with relative ease.
"We started great, then we hit a snag, but then we got back to being great," said Seltzer. "We were not quite where we were at last night, but we were very, very close. Our assistant coaches came up huge today."
Their ability to hold down Biola's relentless attack would not last long, as
Amy Weststeyn and
Joclyn Kirton turned up the heat in the third set. The Eagles tacked on a match-high 15 kills and limited themselves to just five attacking errors to hit .323, also a match-best.
Weststeyn led the team with 14 kills on the afternoon, and she was practically the only one with success in the serve, as she picked up six service aces. Weststeyn's serve was so on point that she actually racked up three consecutive service aces in the decisive fourth set.
"Midland is a very good team, so this is a big win," said Seltzer. "I think they are among the top three non-Golden State Athletic Conference teams in the tournament this year."
The loss gave the Warriors a 2-2 record at this year's Biola Volleyball/Red Lion-Anaheim Summer Slam, and now they get to pack their bags and head back to Nebraska, where they face Davenport (MI) on Thursday afternoon.
Biola improves to 3-0 at the tournament and 3-1 overall. Their final game of the week is at 6 p.m. against Bellevue, a team that is 0-3 so far at this year's tournament.
For more information on the Summer Slam and links for tonight's game visit
http://athletics.biola.edu/sports/2014/7/22/SUMMERSLAM14.aspx?id=197