The No. 1 women’s volleyball team reminded another Golden State Athletic Conference team why they are currently the best team in the country on Sept. 12. Hope International University has not won a set against the Eagles since the 2010 season, and Biola extended that recorded when they beat the Royals 3-0.

Hope opened the first set strong, earning four of the first five points in the game. Biola rallied and secured their first lead at 9-8. The Eagles did not give back the lead and moved on to win the set 25-20. Senior outside hitter Joclyn Kirton finished the set with emphasis, smashing a set from junior setter Tori Moons.  

Biola fed off of their momentum from their first set to take the second with a much larger margin. The Royals stayed close with the Eagles through the first 12 points, tying the score 6-6. From there Biola went on a 19-4 run to win the set 25-10.

The Royals tried to battle their way off of the ropes in the final set. After exchanging points the two teams found themselves in the closest set of the match. Hope went on a 5-1 streak to bring themselves within one point of the Eagles at 22-21. Biola’s experience at winning resulted in the Eagles winning on a block by senior middle blocker Lauren Hoenecke.  

Kirton led Biola with 14 kills, followed by senior outside hitter Britta Blaser with seven. Senior Ashton Arbuthnot and Moons each earned 15 of the Eagles 40 total sets.

Biola now holds a season record of 10-0 while being 2-0 in conference. Their next match is at William Jessup University on Sept. 18. Biola beat the Warriors 3-0 in both meetings last season.