Biola volleyball improved their record to 11-1 after a tournament at Concordia University this weekend. The Eagles played four different teams, including third-ranked Lee University, and finished the Labor Day Festival with a 4-0 record.
Good runs on serving by sophomore Jaci Schork and freshman Lauren Hoenecke resulted in a three-set win for the Eagles against University of California, Merced. The Eagles, who are ranked in the top 10 in the NAIA in attack percentage, recorded a mark of .376 against UC Merced. With 13 different Biola players recording kills, a total of 43 kills were attributed to Biola throughout the game.
Good momentum brings easy win
The team kept their momentum against Westminster College and started out the first set with a 3-0 lead. After much back-and-forth play, the Eagles found themselves ahead once again and ended the set with a 25-17 victory. The second set proved to be even easier for Biola as they breezed past Westminster with a 25-8 win. Another well-played set led Biola to a match victory over Westminster, leaving the scoreboard reading 25-17.
“We go into each game trying to come out with confidence but also not taking any team for granted. Before every game we also take time to remember that we are playing this sport all for an audience of one. We are playing for God and all our work is for him,” junior Chelsee Arnitz said.
Biola closed out the tournament with another two wins against Lee University and Northwestern University on Saturday afternoon of the tournament.
Biola rallies to gain lead after losing initial set
Sophomore Amy Weststeyn took the spotlight in the first game against No. 3 Lee University recording 21 kills and a .625 attack percentage, leading the No. 5 Eagles to a 20-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-23 upset win.
Biola started off the first set against Lee a bit rocky as the Lady Flames came into the set on fire. After breaking a tie of 4-4 with an 11-5 run, Lee pulled ahead with a lead of 15-9. Biola would rally to improve their score, but still fell short and lost the set 20-25.
Biola’s rally continued into the next set and they came in as a completely new team. Biola maintained a solid lead throughout the entire set, taking the set victory of 25-17 over the Lady Flames. After recording one of their worst attack percentages in the first set, Biola recorded one of their best in the second, hitting a .421 with only three errors.
The third set was not the best for Biola when it came to maintaining a strong lead, but they did record a .480 attack percentage and dominated to a 25-13 win over Lee, leaving Biola up by one set.
Eagles struggle in fourth set but manage to take victory
In the fourth set, Biola found themselves in a back-and-forth battle against the Lady Flames. After much play, the scoreboard read 21-21. Lee broke the tie after a service error by Biola but a kill by Weststeyn and a service ace by sophomore Emily Weingartner would put Biola up by one point. Lee would tie the game yet again after some Biola miscues, but another kill by freshman Jocelyn Kirton, followed with an ace by Schork, would give the Eagles the match victory.
The match against Northwestern proved to be arduous as well. The Eagles seemed to struggle with serve receive throughout all three sets, but some scrappy, determined play allowed Biola to take the match 25-21, 25-15, 25-18.
Team focuses on working hard, glorifying God
“We have a really good team this year so I was very confident in our team and coaching,” Schork said. “Personally I just mentally engage myself in it all, make sure I know what's going on, who is on the court, what the opponent is doing, and when I go in I use that knowledge and go hard. Everybody makes mistakes, the key is how you react to them and move on. I focus on getting pumped, encouraging others, working hard, having fun and glorifying the Lord in my play and attitude.”
The Eagles will try and hold on to that mentality as they travel to Vanguard University on Friday. The Eagles play La Sierra University at 11 a.m. and Mount Vernon Nazarene University at 5 p.m. before they start Golden State Athletic Conference play the following week.
