Samantha Rainey

Box Score

Biola BIO 17-10,7-5 PacWest

CUI CUI 12-13,5-7 PacWest

Biola BIO

17-10,7-5 PacWest

Final

Nov. 15, 2025

CUI CUI

12-13,5-7 PacWest

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5	F
Biola BIO	15	25	21	25	15	(3)
CUI CUI	25	17	25	20	10	(2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | November 15, 2025

Ken You Dig It?

Kendall Vandertuig sparkles in leading Biola to a come-from-behind win in the final match of the season.

LA MIRADA, Calif. — On the final night of the season, Biola Volleyball delivered one of its most memorable wins in recent years, storming back for an improbable five-set victory over bitter local rival Concordia on their senior night in Irvine.

After dropping the opening set and later falling behind two games to one, the Eagles erupted for a dominant fourth set and a composed, defensive masterclass in the fifth to walk out of CU Arena with a 3–2 win (15–25, 25–17, 21–25, 25–20, 15–10).

In a season where Biola was heartbreakingly the first team out of the PacWest tournament field, the Eagles closed the year with exactly the kind of performance they needed: resilient, unified, and fueled by big-time moments in enemy territory.

"We're really proud of these girls for how well they bounced back after set one, and how well they bounced back after a tough season in 2024," said Head Coach Brian Failinger. "As per usual, Kendall was a workhorse and carried our offense. But every single person made huge contributions; we would not have won the match without everyone's great defense and serve receive."

Concordia came out firing early, hitting .333 in the opening frame and capitalizing on Biola attack errors to take the first set, 25–15. Biola struggled to establish rhythm offensively — just eight kills on 29 swings — and had no answer for CUI's fast start.

Biola's response was immediate. A 12-kill second set powered the Eagles to a convincing 25–17 win, highlighted by early swings from Payton Tully and timely blocking that pushed back against CUI's middle attack. The backcourt steadied, led by Bri Bellfi's defense and serve-receive, and the Eagles' .310 attack percentage was much improved.

The third set was defined by long rallies and momentum swings, including six ties and three lead changes, but Concordia closed stronger behind a late serving run and a string of Biola attack errors. The home team took the frame 25–21, putting Biola's season finale in jeopardy.

That only set the stage for the response of the night.

Biola unloaded its best volleyball of the match in the fourth as the Eagles hammered down 17 kills while hitting .333 as a team.

Kendall Vandertuig was unstoppable, delivering kill after kill on the way to a 25-kill performance. The Eagles' defensive pursuit stiffened, producing extended rallies that exhausted the CUI hitters and shifted the crowd's energy.

The Eagles controlled the set nearly start to finish, winning 25–20 and dragging the match into a decisive fifth.

The final frame saw six ties and two early lead changes, but Biola's blocking and serving took over when it mattered. After trading points to 8–8, the Eagles ripped off a crucial run sparked by Juliana Van Ommering's early set-5 kill, steady serving from Lexi Lambert, and back-to-back defensive stops that frustrated CUI's hitter.

CUI — who hit between .241 - .433 or better in four of the first four sets — collapsed under Biola's pressure in the fifth, logging seven attack errors and hitting -0.100 in the final game. The Eagles sealed the match 15–10 with that final shutdown defensive play.

The comeback was complete. The rivals' Senior Night was spoiled. And Biola walked out with one of its grittiest wins of the year.

Some of the notable contributors on the night were Kendall Vandertuig with 25 kills and 12 digs and Hannah Hanson who had 20 assists, nine digs and four kills. During her final match for Biola, Bri Bellfi managed 21 digs and an ace to help lift the squad.

"Emma Fairbairn had huge energy for us off the bench and was the reason we won set two," said Failinger. Fairbairn had four kills, a positive hitting percentage, and she was in on a couple blocks in a fantastic second game.

Biola closes the season 17–10 and 7–5 PacWest, just narrowly missing the tournament field — but this win over Concordia, on their floor, in five sets, erases some of that heartbreak. BU went 2-0 vs. CUI this season with both wins coming in five sets. Biola is now 48-21 all-time against the Golden Eagles, including wins in six of the last eight matches.

Print Friendly Version