AZUSA, Calif. --- Biola Volleyball hung in there just long enough to make it really interesting and rise to the level of play we're accustomed to in the Cornerstone Cup rivalry series, but ultimately Azusa Pacific's diversity of attack proved too much as the Cougars beat BU, 3-1 (22-25; 25-20; 18-25; 17-25), to remain undefeated in PacWest Conference play. 

The Eagles' most effective weapon, and what ultimately single-handedly kept them in the match for as long as they were, was the block. BU was dominant throughout the night in that category, leading the Cougars 17-3, but was especially strong through the split first two sets, out-blocking the Cougars 9-0 early on.

The five-point win in game two was powered by seven blocks and 12 kills with the Eagles also siding out at their highest percentage of the match (66%). 

Raegan Tjepkema was in on four of those seven second-set blocks and the other freshman middle, Abigail Copeland, was in on three of her own. They were solid for almost the entire match, combining for 15 blocks. Copeland was in on eight total with a team-high and career-best three solo stuffs.

Tjepkema was also the primary source of offensive success for BU on an inconsistent offensive night. The freshman went for 13 kills to lead the team and also had a .476 hitting percentage making an excellent target for Biola's setters. 

The only problem for the Eagles was that APU had four such weapons on the other side. The spread-out firepower meant that BU simply did not have enough to keep up as the match wore on in sets two and three.

Four different APU players had double-digit kills, with two-headed middle monster Julianne Miller and Sara Wagenveld combining for 27 kills and hitting .408 overall. Freshman Annaka Jorgenson led the APU attack with 15 kills of her own on a team-high 33 swings.

Biola never led past the 10-point mark in the third and fourth sets, losing the momentum built by a phenomenal finish to its victorious second game. 

The win allows Azusa Pacific, which is receiving votes in the AVCA/NCAA Division II Top-25 Coaches' Poll, to earn the first five points available in the third edition of the Cornerstone Cup presented by West Coast Sand & Gravel.

Becca Branch had a solid performance in the losing effort, doing a little bit of everything for the Eagles while experiencing an offensive resurgence. The senior had nine kills on a .320 clip and also recorded Biola's only two service aces of the whole match. 

The serve was not a huge weapon on either side in this one, with the two teams combining for just four total in the match. Perhaps having the conference's two best liberos on the floor has a bit to do with that.

Speaking of, Azusa Pacific's Bailey Henington maintained the conference lead in digs with 22 in the match. Sami Hover led Biola's effort with 19. Marissa Price was one of three other Biolans with six or more digs (6) in a great defensive performance. She was also second to Vanessa Garcia (20) with 17 assists.

The loss moves Biola back down to an even .500 at 7-7. BU is 4-2 in PacWest Conference play, keeping it in a prime position heading into another grueling week next week when it has the three-match, five-day Hawaiian road trip.