The Biola Eagles volleyball team advanced to the NAIA tournament again after a regular-season ending win Nov. 15 against The Master’s College Mustangs. The four-set victory gave the Eagles an overall record of 28-4 and a conference record of 15-1, good enough to make Biola the co-champions of the Golden State Athletic Conference with the Concordia Eagles.

The final match of the regular season for Biola proved a bit of a challenge for them, taking place at Master’s on their senior night. Biola jumped out to an early lead, winning the first set decisively with a score of 25-15. Biola also took the second set, but Master’s played better and cut the loss to only five points, at 25-20. Master’s continued to improve and took the third set 25-19, marking the first time this season they took a set from Biola. However, the Eagles rallied back from the loss and won the hard-fought fourth set 25-22, cementing their position as co-champion of the GSAC.

Junior outside hitter Joclyn Kirton played a key role in Biola’s victory, racking up 13 kills and four blocks. Senior middle blocker Amy Weststeyn pitched in offensively with 10 kills, two aces and eight blocks. Many of the stats for both teams ended up quite close to each other, with two major exceptions — blocking and hitting errors. Biola out-blocked the Mustangs 13-7, as well as committing only 19 attacking errors to The Master’s 29. These factors played a part in helping Biola overcome the Mustangs and walk away victoriously.

With the completion of the regular season, the Eagles look ahead to the NAIA tournament with high aspirations to cap off their already excellent season.

“If every one of us gives one hundred percent,” said Weststeyn, “there is not a single team that can beat us.”

The Eagles remain fully aware of the fact that the national tournament is nothing like the regular season and they understand that the preparation starts now.

“We really only have a few practices left before we leave,” said Weststeyn, “and it’s really important for us to use these next few weeks to sharpen up and prepare mentally and physically for a long week of tough competition.”

The Eagles know to take none of the teams lightly, even though Biola has already beaten a few of them this season, namely Concordia and University of Texas-Brownsville.

“Even if we played a team earlier in the season,” said Weststeyn, “their team dynamic and their playing style has changed and improved and they’re not the same team anymore.”

Biola watches out for some teams played at the very beginning of the season as well as some they have yet to play. Biola looks for possible redemption for their losses at the hands of Viterbo University and Rocky Mountain University early in the season, while also keeping an eye on Park University, the only undefeated team entering the tourney.

“Viterbo should be a good match,” said junior outside hitter Alyssa Mason, “and if we face Park, Concordia or Rocky, those will also be difficult matches.”

NAIA tournament play starts on Dec. 2 for the Eagles in Sioux City, Iowa as they earned a first-round bye.