LA MIRADA --- Biola Volleyball opened PacWest play in convincing fashion on Tuesday night, sweeping Point Loma 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 27-25) in front of a lively crowd at Chase Gymnasium.
"We are so thankful to the Lord for all the ways he blessed us tonight," stated head coach
Brian Failinger. "Our favorite part of the evening was seeing the growth in our girls in how they stayed level headed when sets got tight and the pressure mounted. Our staff is so blessed to get to coach this group of coachable, hard working athletes!"
The Eagles took control of the opening set with a dominant run behind the serving of Alex Strating. With the score tied at 6-6, Biola rattled off 11-straight points to build a 17-6 advantage. Strating recorded three service aces during the stretch, while Payton Tully and Savannah Simpson helped the Eagles create separation at the net. Point Loma made a late push, but BU closed out the set 25-19.
Point Loma responded in the second and built a 10-6 lead before Biola worked its way back. The Eagles tied the set at 11-11 and the teams traded points deep into the frame. With the score tied at 23-23, Hannah Hanson delivered a kill to give Biola set point before a Point Loma attack error secured the 25-23 win.
The third set proved to be the tightest of the match. Neither side was able to pull away, and Point Loma eventually earned set point at 24-23. Strating answered with a kill to keep Biola alive before Tully put the Eagles ahead 25-24.
The Sea Lions tied the set once more, but Strating delivered another kill to give BU match point. Juliana Van Ommering followed with the final swing, putting away the 27-25 victory to complete the sweep. Biola hit .357 in the third with 17 kills and just two attack errors.
Haylee LaFontaine paced the Biola attack with 10 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, while Van Ommering added nine kills and eight digs. Strating turned in a strong all-around performance with eight kills on a .467 clip, four service aces and two total blocks.
"We played as a team so well," said LaFontaine. "There was not one moment that one of us was on our own — and that's why we ultimately took the win."
Tully added five kills on eight swings for a .500 hitting percentage, while Simpson led the Eagles at the net with six block assists. Knevelbaard paced the back row with 13 digs and Caprice Cooper added 12 digs and two service aces.
Lexi Lambert dished out a team-high 18 assists, while Hanson added 14 assists, six digs and two service aces.
Biola improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in PacWest play, extending its winning streak to five matches, all in straight sets.
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