PHOENIX, Ariz. --- Biola squeaked out its first Golden State Athletic Conference victory since Feb. 10 on Friday, taking down Arizona Christian 5-4 on the road.
 
"This was an important win as it gets us off to a winning start in our second round of conference matches," said Head Coach Brent Worthington.
 
The Eagles went into singles play looking at a 1-2 deficit as ACU took two of the three doubles sets. Philip Westwood and Luke Mountain combined for an 8-2 victory in the No. 2 doubles position to salvage at least one match early.
 
After the early setback, the Eagles just needed to settle in and find a way to win. In their matchup earlier this season Biola took five of the six singles matches, so confidence was not in short supply.
 
The Eagles won each of the first three singles matches to complete play, turning that 1-2 deficit into a 4-2 advantage with three matches to play and needing just one win to clinch.
 
A loss in the fourth singles match to finish tightened things up just a bit more with only Tayven Townsend and Joe Turnquist left in play as both players split their first two sets.
 
Turnquist took set one 6-3, lost set two 2-6 and was looking at a 0-2 deficit in the third before winning six of the next seven to clinch his match and Biola's fourth team victory in its last five matches.
 
"He played great and fought hard to win the match for us and should be proud," said Worthington. "It was a very competitive match today because ACU came out hungry and played really well."
 
Fortunately the Eagles played just a little bit better and improved to 7-7 (3-4 GSAC) on the season. The Firestorm fell to 3-7 (1-6 GSAC). Biola travels straight home from Arizona to host Middlebury College (2-0) tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. It will be the Eagles' third competition day in a row.