Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- When No. 1 Biola came from down 24-21 to win the third set over No. 17 Westmont to avoid losing in straight sets it was all setup to be the perfect come-from-behind road victory that serves as a signature on a successful conference season.
 
Then Biola held a 24-21 advantage as it looked poised to seal the fourth. However, an epic back-and-forth in that set ended with the home team taking the set and the match in extra points. This 3-1 victory is the Warriors' first win over Biola since a five-setter on Oct. 29, 2011.
 
What made the difference on this night was that Westmont brought with them their entire arsenal and played a complete team game from top-to-bottom in playing their best volleyball of the 2015 season. They took advantage of a slow start by Biola to hurry out to a 2-0 advantage in the match after finishing with big runs at the end of sets one and two.
 
Alyssa Mason and Britta Blaser were strong throughout both of those first two sets, but the Eagles as a whole had a challenging time getting their attacks through a Westmont front row that was strong at the net. The second set was much tighter than set one as Biola led as late as 19-18 before ultimately falling 22-25 after playing a set that was tied 15 different times.
 
Biola was back on the ropes in the third set as it trailed 24-21 and seemed destined to lose in straight sets for the first time this season. Then some points began to bounce in favor of the Eagles who seemed determined in putting up a respectable showing away from home.
 
A gutsy performance got Biola five points in a row to keep the match alive. The biggest of those points came on a play that saw Olivia Sorensen successfully defend a Westmont attack to fend off the Warriors' first of what would be three match point attempts to bring the set even at 24.
 
Then a Westmont set error was followed by a kills from Alyssa Mason to seal Biola's exhilarating 26-24 set win. Mason had 12 kills and hit nearly .700 through the first three sets.
 
Biola's blockers showed up in the third set. Their three blocks tripled their total from the first two sets combined.
 
The fourth set, which was ultimately the clincher for Westmont turned out to be one for the ages. There were only two lead changes in the set, but a raging comeback from Westmont after Biola got to set point led to eight tie scores and five extra points needed to earn the home team the win.
 
After the Eagles got to the point where victory was right in front of them at 24-21 the Westmont defense stepped up big time. Biola, like Westmont the set before, had three chances at set point and failed to convert on all three. They appeared to win the match on their try at 24-23 as Karly Dantuma hit one right down the far line, but it was called just wide and led the Warriors tie it at 24.
 
From that point on, with the home crowd on their side, Westmont had the advantage and was not going to let go. It took them five tries, but ultimately a bad dig that left Mason no chance to finish an attack attempt sealed the 30-28 win and 3-1 win for Westmont.
 
Mason may have missed that chance at the end, but she was magnificent again tonight ending with 15 kills and a .407 attack percentage. Britta Blaser joined her with 15 kills of her own and hit nearly .400.
 
Alex Brehaut was outstanding in the back row with 19 digs, many of which kept Biola alive in that comeback win in set three.
 
Ultimately it was a difference of just a few points between the two teams, some of which can be found in Biola's negative margin in blocks (-3) and service aces (-5). The Eagles went the entire night without and ace and made nine service errors.
 
So the loss drops Biola to 23-3 (12-2 GSAC) and makes the chances of a Golden State Athletic Conference Championship a bit more blurry, while Westmont improves to 18-6 (10-4 GSAC).
 
The Eagles are back in action at home next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. when they host San Diego Christian.