Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Fueled by the unquenchable competitive fire of wanting to win for your seniors on their senior night No. 19 Biola Volleyball came up with a huge statement win in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 26-24) over The Master's University.
 
The Eagles came out ready to rock and roll in the first set as they soared out to a 9-4 lead thanks to five consecutive points coming out of a 4-4 tie. Kaitlin O'Brien served four in a row for BU as they got two points of Karly Dantuma/Ally Forsberg blocks and kills by Dantuma and Brooke Watts.
 
That early lead held throughout the rest of the first set as The Master's was never able to pull back within even two points of Biola. The Eagles defense was exactly as strong as you'd expect it to be the second time you see a conference opponent. The back row and blockers were well-prepared for everything the Mustangs threw at them and held TMU to -.076 hitting in the 25-18 first-set win.
 
"I thought blocking was key for us, and defensively we did a good job," said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer.
 
The Eagles accumulated four of their 11 blocks in the first set as they made a statement early on that it would not be an easy night for the Mustangs' outside and opposite hitters.
 
The second set was fairly similar to the first. The Eagles again claimed an early lead, but this time the Mustangs caught up a little bit as BU's attack began to make a few mistakes. TMU had the set tied as late as 18-18, but then Biola managed to score eight of the final nine points of the set to clinch a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
"It's hard to play so good for so long. At some point in the match you will lose your edge, the other team will get comfortable playing you and do some stuff," said Seltzer. "I thought The Master's did a great job of playing really hard and not giving up."
 
That fight was especially evident in the third set, which was the tightest of the match and the first time that the visitors were able to sort out their attacking efforts a bit and hit with a positive percentage.
 
The set did not begin well at all for the Mustangs as BU surged ahead 7-1 thanks to an absolute display of hitting dominance from one Karly Dantuma. Dantuma landed four kills in the first eight points to help lift the Eagles up and set them well on their way to a sweep.
 
Then, TMU's Kayla Sims and Sarah Park both had a stretch where they served Biola really tough and managed to win back all of those points for the Mustangs to make it a 12-10 TMU advantage and have everyone in the arena suddenly thinking four sets.
 
After finally siding out thanks to a TMU attack error, Biola's Anna Houser was able to get a quick ace to tie it at 12 and then Biola managed two more points in a row, which would turn out to be critical in a set that would go to extra points.
 
After an Aubrey Pyburn kill spoiled Biola's first match point the Eagles got a kill by Dantuma (her 15^th of the night) and a solo block by Ally Forsberg to end the match and send the seniors to their celebration with a heart full of happiness.
 
"Tonight we were well prepared. We blocked so well. Karly did a great job on Aubrey [Pyburn]," said Seltzer. "She's an All-American kid, one of the best outside hitters in the conference, and we managed her really, really well."
 
Pyburn ended with just 11 kills (hitting .031) after torching Biola for 20 (hitting .214) when The Master's beat Biola in five in Santa Clarita earlier this year.
 
Dantuma ended with the team-lead in kills (15) and was followed by Stephanie Jewett, Hannah van Warmerdam and Brooke Watts who had seven each. The variety of the Eagles' attack was a direct result of the fantastic decision making of the two setters, Tori Moons and Brinley Beresford. The pair combined for 39 assists and seemed to pick the perfect attacker at the perfect moment all night long.
 
The Biola defense held the Mustangs to a .075 hitting percentage for the match. This was a huge accomplishment as the team came in averaging .234 this season and hit .231 in Santa Clarita. Tess Van Grouw led with 13 digs. It was her 28^th double-digit dig performance this season.
 
Biola moves into a tie for second place in the Golden State Athletic Conference with this Senior Night win. The Eagles and Mustangs both hold 11-3 conference records heading into next week, which is the final week of the 2016 regular season.
 
Biola plays at Vanguard (7-5) and at San Diego Christian (4-10). The Master's hosts Westmont (14-0) and Hope International (5-7).
 
HAPPY SENIOR NIGHT TORI AND OLIVIA! :)