Junior Jaci Schork looks on as sophomore Crissy Cunningham passes it up to the front row. The volleyball team continues to uphold their undefeated title for the 2013 season. | Katie Evensen/THE CHIMES
The No. 3 Eagles continued their perfect season on Friday against Arizona Christian University in three sets. Biola is now 13-0 overall and 4-0 in the Golden State Athletic Conference play.
In the first set Biola had the serve. Sophomore defensive specialist Alex Brehaunt set the tone of the match by acing her serve for the first point.
Biola put five points between them and Arizona before the Firestorm earned their first point off of a service error. Arizona did not take advantage of the point and put the ball back into Biola’s hands with a service error of their own.
The Eagles’ momentum continued from the early lead. Biola dominated offensively and had six service aces in the first set alone. The first timeout of the set was called by Arizona with Biola up 20-8.
Sophomore outside hitter Jocyln Kirton brought Biola to set-point with a kill from the outside. The final point was won off of an attack error from Arizona’s outside hitter Haley Worden.
Biola finished the set and kept Arizona from reaching double digits 25-9.
“It’s always nice to open strong,” junior middle blocker Amy Westsyen said. “It feels good to keep them under double digits and it sets a good tone for the rest of the match.”
Biola switched their line up in the second match. Senior defensive specialist Tara Rallis took sophomore Alex Brehant’s place as libero for the rest of the match.
The Eagles started out on the receiving side and Kirton put the ball back in Biola’s hands with a kill.
Arizona struggled to keep up with Biola’s aggressive and strategic style of play and found themselves behind 19-9.
ACU did manage to break into the double digits, but Biola already had too great of an advantage and defeated Arizona 25-13.
“We practice how we play on the court,” Weststeyn said. “When we play teams that don’t necessarily bring long rallies or crazy times that is when we kick in what we have practiced all week, which is gaining momentum and keeping in mind — even when we are not getting huge kills — we are still steadily moving forward.”
Arizona earned the first point of the third set from an attack error by freshman outside hitter Olivia Sorenson. Sophomore middle blocker Lauren Hoenecke got the serve back on Biola’s side with a kill. Hoenecke was the team leader in blocks with a total of five during the entire match.
After receiving the serve from setter Nicolette Douglas, the Firestorm let the ball drop in the middle of all six players on the court to make the score 13-7.
Biola dominated offensively throughout the entire match. Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Mason sent the ball right down the line to put Biola at 18-11.
Arizona was able to put a few more points on the board compared to the previous sets, but their effort was not enough and the Eagles finished out the match 25-18.
Biola will play Westmont College Saturday at 7 p.m. in Santa Barbara.
