DALLAS, Texas --- Biola Volleyball closed out the Dallas Classic on a high note Saturday afternoon, sweeping Colorado Mesa in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-13) at the Burg Center.
The Eagles put together their strongest offensive performance of the weekend, hitting .340 as a team while holding the Mavericks to a .111 hitting percentage. Biola also held advantages in kills (42-27), service aces (7-4) and blocks (8-1).
Biola controlled the opening set from the outset, jumping ahead 5-2 and maintaining the advantage throughout. A four-point run behind the serving of Alex Strating stretched the Eagles' lead to 13-7, with Strating recording two service aces during the stretch. Colorado Mesa made a late push, but Juliana Van Ommering delivered two kills down the stretch before Savannah Simpson closed out the 25-20 win.
The second set was the closest of the match. After the teams traded points early, Biola used a five-point run to build a 9-4 lead, highlighted by three Van Ommering kills. Colorado Mesa eventually pulled within one at 19-18, but the Eagles responded and scored six of the final nine points to take the set 25-21.
Biola saved its best for the third. The Eagles raced out to an 8-2 advantage and never looked back, hitting .500 with 16 kills and just two errors. BU held Colorado Mesa to a negative-.037 hitting percentage in the frame and closed the match on a 6-2 run for the 25-13 victory.
Van Ommering paced Biola with a match-high 16 kills on a .433 hitting percentage and added five digs and four block assists. Haylee LaFontaine contributed six kills, while Payton Tully added five. Simpson and Strating each finished with four kills, with Simpson also leading the Eagles at the net with six block assists.
Hannah Hanson and Lexi Lambert each dished out 14 assists. Hanson added four kills and eight digs, while Lambert recorded a team-high 10 digs and two service aces. Sophia Knevelbaard contributed seven assists and six digs.
The win moved Biola to 2-2 on the season and wrapped up the Eagles' weekend at the Dallas Classic. Biola returns to action on Friday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. against Cal State Monterey Bay.
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