Biola University Athletics

SEATTLE, Wash. --- Biola (2-3) falls below .500 for the first time this season as the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback against Seattle Pacific (2-3) to open the road trip in the Pacific North West on Thursday night. 

The Eagles (2-3) rallied from an eleven-point deficit loss in set one to win the second set 26-24, but then dropped set three 28-26. Biola responded in set four with a 25-23 win, but Seattle Pacific (2-3) took control in the fifth and final set after scoring four straight-points to take the match. 

Madison Beebe continued to lead the offense as the outside hitter tallied 13 kills and 9 digs, just missing her fifth double-double of the season in just as many matches. Abigail Copeland added 9 kills on a .412 hitting percentage with an ace. The trio of Dani Bryant, Dominique Kirton and Vanessa Garcia each logged 8 kills a piece. 

Garcia had 34 assists to lead the Eagles to a .162 hitting percentage while the Falcons hit .184 and had a 12-8 advantage in service aces. Although Biola dropped the match, the Eagles had a 54-52 edge in assists and had six more digs, 92-86, while drawing even with 18 blocks at the net.

At the net, Copeland led the Eagles with 9 blocks while Abby Brewster added 4, closely followed by Bebee & Raegan Tjepkema with 3 each. 
 
Defensively, Sami Hover led the team with 35 digs while a trio of Eagles check in with double-digit digs. Garcia and Kirton, the Washington native, each tallied 11 while Brewster chipped in with 10. Kirton was two kills shy of recording her first double-double of the season in her home state while Garcia secured her fourth double-double this season. 

The Eagles are back in action for their second game of the Seattle Pacific Invitational as they take on Simon Fraser at 1 P.M. on Friday afternoon.