LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola is once again set to host the USTA/ITA Regional NAIA Championships at the Biola Tennis Center. The tournament runs from the afternoon of Sept. 25 through the afternoon of Sept. 27.
 
Biola has 12 student-athletes competing in this tournament, including five doubles pairings. The tournament is not an official NAIA competition, but is a part of the USTA/ITA series and is a platform for NAIA student-athletes to compete for a spot in the annual USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.
 
The Small College (NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College) singles and doubles champions from the USTA/ITA Regional Championships will advance to the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships, held Oct. 9-12 at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina. The USTA/ITA National Small College Championships are comprised of the eight regional champions.
 
This year's rendition of the regional tournament features competition from Golden State Athletic Conference schools: Arizona Christian, Concordia, Hope International and Westmont.
 
The 2013 regional tournament saw Biola get closer than it ever has before to qualifying a student-athlete for this National Small College Championships. Kathryn Ashford, a 2014 NAIA All-American, ended the tournament with a second place finish in the women's singles.
 
She is sitting out the singles play this year to focus on doubles play with her partner, Susan Carmichael. They are one of three Biola women's doubles teams in action this weekend and begin play with a match against Gabriella Chavez and Alyssa Pritchett from Hope International at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.
 
Ashford and Carmichael went 12-6 in doubles play last season, primarily slotting in at the No. 2 spot in Head Coach Dee Henry's lineup. They did not face Pritchett in either match against Hope International.
 
In addition to getting to see returning players in action once again, this regional gives Henry and the men's tennis head coach, Brent Worthington, a first look at their new talent.
 
David Garcia, Joe Turnquist, Michael Vartuli and Andrew Greenfield will each compete in their first collegiate action for Biola men's tennis over the course of this tournament, and Jacquelyn Mota and Megan Ontiveros each compete for the first time for the Biola women.
 
Tayven Townsend is a returner to keep an eye on for the men's squad. He will compete in singles play and teamed up with David Garcia in doubles. Townsend earned a bye through first round singles play, based on seeding, and he will play his first singles match on Friday at 8:00 a.m. He and Garcia begin their time as a singles pairing with a match against Christian Mathis and Tommy Nightengale from Westmont. They are one of two men's doubles pairings for Biola.
 
Results from each day of the tournament get posted at http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=158301#&&s=7Draws5.
 
Below are all of the Eagles' scheduled opening matchups:
 
Men's Singles:
 
David Garcia vs. Christian Mathis (WC) – Thursday 11 a.m.
Joe Turnquist vs. Antoine Bedard (ACU) – Thursday 11 a.m.
Tayven Townsend – Bye
Michael Vartuli vs. Thiago Duarte de Brito (HIU) – Thursday 12:30 p.m.
Andrew Greenfield vs. David Castano (ACU) – Thursday 12:30 p.m.
 
Men's Doubles:
 
Greenfield/Turnquist vs. Man Hon Ko/Moritz Pronath (CUI) – Thursday 4:30 p.m.
Garcia/Townsend vs. Christian Mathis/Tommy Nightengale (WC) – Thursday 4:30 p.m.
 
Women's Singles:
 
Jacquelyn Mota vs. Iulia Marcenco (ACU) – Thursday 12:30 p.m.
Madeline Heer vs. Sabrina Miller (HIU) – Thursday 2 p.m.
Lauren Vogel vs. Kathrine Jensen (CUI) – Thursday 2 p.m.
Megan Ontiveros vs. Jessica Trink (ACU) – Thursday 2 p.m.
Susan Carmichael vs. Greer Forseth (ACU) – Thursday 3:30 p.m.
Kelsey Post vs. Alyssa Penner (HIU) – Thursday 3:30 p.m.
 
Women's Doubles:
 
Ashford/Carmichael vs. Gabriella Chavez/Alyssa Pritchett (HIU) – Thursday 5:45 p.m.
Mota/Vogel vs. Iulia Marcenco/Jessica Trink (ACU) – Thursday 5:45 p.m.
Heer/Post vs. Cynthis Flynn/Layla Accorsi (CUI) – Thursday 5:45 p.m.