LA MIRADA, Calif. — Decked out in pink for a meaningful night inside Chase Gymnasium, Biola Volleyball delivered a rivalry win to match the occasion.
The Eagles defeated Vanguard 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16) on Thursday evening, improving to 12-3 overall and 7-1 in PacWest Conference play. The match was Biola's annual Dig Pink night in support of the Side-Out Foundation and breast cancer awareness.
Biola's offense had two major difference-makers in Savannah Simpson and Juliana Van Ommering. Simpson was flawless in the attack, pounding down 12 kills without an attack error on 18 attempts for a remarkable .667 hitting percentage. She was equally disruptive at the net with eight block assists.
Van Ommering did just about everything. The outside hitter led Biola with 17 kills while adding four service aces, nine digs and five total blocks, including a hand in the block that ended the match.
The Eagles needed their work at the net early. Vanguard opened the first set with a 10-6 advantage before Biola rattled off six-consecutive points. Simpson supplied two kills during the run, Emmy Page landed two aces and suddenly the Eagles were in front 12-10.
The rivals went back-and-forth from there, eventually reaching 20-20. Biola's block then helped create separation. An attack error and a Simpson-Addison Brown rejection moved the Eagles ahead 22-20 before Natalie Ojeisekhoba delivered a kill at 24-22. Van Ommering and Ojeisekhoba then teamed up for the set-ending block. Those were two of a handful of signature moments for the newcomer Ojeisekhoba tonight.
In set two the big block also made a difference. With the score tied 6-6, Alex Strating and Ojeisekhoba combined for back-to-back blocks as part of a three-point push. Vanguard climbed back within one at 17-16, but Biola again had an answer. Ojeisekhoba finished a kill and then joined Strating for another block to restore a three-point cushion.
Simpson and Brown fittingly closed the 25-19 win with another rejection to put Biola ahead 2-0.
The third set was the night's most frustrating frame for the Eagles. Biola led 10-7 before Vanguard turned several Eagle attack errors and Lions' blocks into a 6-0 run. Head Coach Brian Failinger's team battled back to ties at 13 and 14 and later pulled within one at 18-17, but four Biola service errors in the set continually set Biola behind the eight ball.
Still, the Eagles nearly stole it. Facing set point at 24-21, Simpson slammed down a kill and Biola forced a VU attack error to make it 24-23 before Vanguard finally clinched the set to extend the match.
Biola made sure there would be no fifth frame with a dominant fourth set effort.
The Eagles jumped ahead 5-1 in the fourth and stretched the lead to 10-4 behind consecutive Sophia Knevelbaard aces. Vanguard trimmed the margin to three at 14-11, but BU never let the Lions get closer.
Page's back-to-back aces pushed the advantage to 20-13 before Van Ommering and Simpson took over down the stretch. Van Ommering delivered a kill for 22-15, Simpson followed with consecutive late kills and the duo combined on the match-clinching block for a 25-16 finish.
Biola hit .345 in the final set while holding Vanguard to .056.
Simpson and Van Ommering combined for 29 of Biola's 52 kills, while Ojeisekhoba added an efficient five kills without an error and six block assists. Caprice Cooper anchored the defense with 17 digs, and Page and Lexi Lambert distributed 22 assists a piece.
Biola finished with 13 service aces (second-most this year) and 15 blocks (season-high) in the win. The previous top tally for blocks was 10 vs. Hawaii Hilo on Sept. 19.
On a pink-laden night at Chase, Biola's two-headed offensive monster and imposing presence at the net ultimately delivered the rivalry victory. Next up for Biola is its three-match swing through Hawaii. The Eagles begin play at Hawaii Hilo on October 6.
