LONG BEACH, Calif. --- Ella Hiveley had been familiar with Biola long before she ever started high school. The Long Beach Poly senior has attended soccer camps on Biola's turf since she was 10 years old and loved it so much as a child that she encouraged friends to attend with her multiple times.

If Hiveley had any daydreams about suiting up for the Eagles during those youth camps, her dreams will become a reality in just a few months as the midfielder/forward officially made her commitment to join Biola's women's soccer team beginning this fall.

Hiveley will become the sixth member of her family to attend Biola and follows her dad to the University, who graduated in 1986.

"Ella and her teammates attended our camp for a few years in a row, always bringing a love for each other and joy when they played the game of soccer. Years later, Ella expressed her interest in Biola and we were able to get to know her all over again, but this time as a young adult," said Head Coach Erin Brunelle. "Ella brings a strong passion for the Lord and for the game, being willing to play anywhere on the field that her coaches have challenged her to learn.  She plays with a high level of intensity and will bring grit and power to our attack."

At Long Beach Poly, Hiveley was called up to the varsity squad as a freshman for the Jackrabbits' playoff run. Then she went on to become a two-year starter for Long Beach Poly and helped the Jackrabbits reach the CIF Division II Southern Section semifinals and Regional semifinals a few months ago. The Jackrabbits went 15-3-2 this season with a 9-1-2 Moore League record after scoring 102 goals and allowing just 16.

Maxpreps.com credits Hiveley with three goals and two assists in the available statistics for Long Beach Poly this year. But no assist was bigger for her team than the one Hiveley recorded this past December in a rivalry match against Woodrow Wilson High School. After the Jackrabbits came up with the equalizing goal on the road against Wilson in the 72nd minute, Hiveley stood over the ball just six minutes later and served a set piece into the box that was sent home for a memorable comeback victory for Long Beach Poly.

Off the pitch, Hiveley has been on the honor roll every semester of her time in high school and has gone on a number of missions trip to San Francisco and to Japan with her youth group and the FC Seahorses. Hiveley plans to major in kinesiology at Biola in the fall as she joins the team she's "dreamed of playing for since I was 10 years old."

"It was also the Biola community that made my want to come here," added Hiveley. "When I talked to some of the girls on the team and they told me about the team dynamics, I knew instantly I wanted to be part of it."

Hiveley will join the Biola Eagles for their first season of NCAA postseason eligibility in 2019. More information about other incoming student-athletes can be found on the Committed Athletes page.