LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Biola Softball reaches new heights in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 2 behind only West Texas A&M, the 2021 NCAA Division II National Champions. 

Biola fought all season long to break into the top-25, receiving votes each week before finally breaking through as the No. 24 ranked team in the nation in the week 12 coaches poll. 

The Eagles would drop to No. 25 in the week 13 poll before reclaiming the No. 24 slot in week 14 and finishing its historic season with a massive leap into the No. 2 spot in the final NFCA Coaches Poll of the season.

In the 2021 season Biola came up just one game short of being crowned NCAA Division II National Champions, ultimately falling to the No. 1 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs in the best-of-three championship series in Denver, Colorado. 

During its historic postseason push, Biola handed out upsets to the No. 1 Augustana Vikings (3-0), No. 2 North Georgia NightHawks (4-0, 5-2) and took one game from No. 12 West Texas A&M (5-0, 4-7, 1-4).  

While the Eagles stunned softball fans around the nation and now have BU Softball fans scattered across the country, Team 28 knew exactly what they were capable of going into the NCAA DII Softball National Championship.

"Going into the tournament there was a lot of talk about our record and stats compared to the other seven teams in Denver," said Biola ace Paige Austin. "We play in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, facing off against Concordia Irvine twelve times during the regular season while playing against some of Southern California's best teams. It's prepared us for this moment"

Just how difficult was it playing softball in the PacWest SoCal pod this season? Concordia checked in as high as No. 8 on the NFCA Coaches Poll. The Battle of the Eagles proved to be a season-long battle as Biola went 7-5 against CUI in the regular season and 1-1 in the NCAA Division II West Regional before being crowned West Region Champions behind a Raylene Roybal gem. 

Southern California is notorious for its softball talent, producing some of the best names in softball at every level. La Mirada isn't only the home to Biola Softball but also the hometown of softball legend and Team USA's Jennie Finch.

In 2017, Finch's father, Doug, served as pitching coach at Biola during the freshman season of Team 28 seniors Kayla Neff and Haley Martinez. The 2017 coaching staff also featured SoCal native Janie Takeda Reed, a three-time All-American for the Oregon Ducks, member of Team USA, Athletes Unlimited and National Pro Fastpitch. 

While Team 28 fell just short of a national championship, Team 29 is already focused on getting back to Denver in 2022. Head Coach Nikki Udria is losing three key players, Neff, Martinez and Ruth Munoz, while returning every other starter on the roster. The Eagles made a name for themselves in 2021 and look to continue to build off their success next season.