LA MIRADA --- With the 2025 season on the horizon, Biola Volleyball looks to rise, welcoming a group of four impactful freshmen into a roster brimming with experience. The Eagles return 17 players from the 2024 squad and add a class that Head Coach Brian Failinger describes as "a perfect fit" for the team's evolving culture.

Coming off a 9-19 overall record and a 7-13 mark in PacWest play that placed them 10th in the standings, the Eagles enter 2025 with renewed energy and clear direction. The PacWest preseason poll was announced on Monday, as the Eagles were voted to finish sixth in the conference in 2025.

The 2025 slate kicks off in Alaska with four matches in three days. Biola then hosts its own round robin, holding six matches including two neutral games from Thursday, September 11 through Saturday, September 13 in Chase Gymnasium. A new conference format sees the Eagles take on 19 PacWest foes, while only 12 of them will count towards their conference record. Strong opponents are littered throughout the schedule with four bouts being slated against teams ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA DII preseason top 25 poll.

Failinger had this to say about his new group of talent, "Overall, this class has been trained at some of the top clubs in the nation, so they will come in knowing how to work hard and how to sacrifice their comfort to win. With a shift in culture that started last spring, this class is a perfect fit because they prioritize their faith more than anything, yet at the same time have a fierce drive to compete and win. They've already caught on to the example our returners are modeling so well, and have been all-in to chase our mission and goals."

 

2025 BIOLA VOLLEYBALL NEWCOMERS
NAME	POS.	YR.	HOMETOWN	PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Shauna McDowell	S	Fr.	San Juan Capistrano, Calif.	Capistrano Valley Christian School
Emily Page	S	Fr.	Imperial Beach, Calif.	Coronado High School
Alexa Bell	OH	Fr.	Boring, Ore.	Sam Barlow High School
Savannah Simpson	MB	Fr.	La Mesa, Calif.	El Capitan High School

Shauna McDowell
Failinger's thoughts on McDowell: "Once Shauna came on our radar in her sophomore year, we knew she'd be a great fit for the Biola program. She's a lightning-fast setter who can run down just about any ball, and is already a great embodiment of our culture and values. She loves the Lord, gives her absolute best effort every time she steps onto the court, and she's going to have a big impact on the program over her four years."

Emily Page
Failinger's thoughts on Page: "Emily spent her high school career at two of the best clubs in the country, so the winning culture and hard working mindset is deeply ingrained in her. What we loved so much about Emily is the competitive energy she brings to her team, and how well she locates the ball as a setter. She's everyone's biggest fan, is a gamer, and will give everything she has to help her teammates improve and to win."

Alexa Bell
Failinger's thoughts on Bell: "Alexa is coming from a very strong club in Oregon, and has a lot of experience training and competing at the highest level. What we loved about her is how well-rounded her skills are, and her athleticism. What caught my eye even more with her, though, is that she plays the game with so much joy. Once we had our first call with her, she showed so much thoughtful maturity and her faith in Christ was so evident, we went away thinking she was someone we had to have."

Savannah Simpson
Failinger's thoughts on Simpson: "Savannah knows how to win. She was a key piece in her club team taking second at nationals in the highest division this last spring, and has made it very clear that she wants to win championships at Biola. She's going to have a big impact right away in the middle, and will be a huge threat with how well she can score and block. She's also one of the funniest people you'll ever meet, so be ready for her to make you laugh."