The Biola Eagles women’s volleyball team proved themselves very deserving of their No. 1 ranking this week, dispatching both the Arizona Christian Firestorm and the Hope International Royals in three sets. This is the sixth straight three-set victory for the Eagles, the best number since the Eagles’ 2012 volleyball team, who had a nine-game streak and eventually ended up 31-5. This year’s team has just broken double-digit wins, and now sits at 10-0 overall and 2-0 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

The first match of the week was Biola’s regular season-opener on a Friday night against the Arizona Christian Firestorm who came in with a 2-5 record. Biola controlled the game from the beginning, limiting the Firestorm to 15 points or less each set and putting up a season high .456 kill percentage.

STEPPING UP THEIR GAME

The Eagles’ freshmen really stepped up their game, as Karly Dantuma, Christina DenBoer and Stephanie Jewett combined for 17 of Biola’s 35 kills. Dantuma in particular stood out, committing no errors and putting away seven of the 11 balls set to her.

It was not just the freshmen show though, as senior Lauren Hoenecke played her part with six kills and three blocks. Another senior, Alex Brehaut, contributed three aces to help push the team to the three set victory (25-14, 25-15, 25-14).

KEEP THE STREAK GOING

The Eagles then faced the Hope International Royals on Saturday, another team coming in with a 2-5 record. Biola had not dropped a set against HUI since the 2010 season, and looked to keep the streak going in this meeting.

The Royals took an early lead in the first set, but Biola got it back at 9-8, at which point they did not let go. Biola would have run away with the game with their 16 kills compared to HUI’s nine, but Biola also committed 10 attacking errors that kept it close. Eventually they did enough to pull out the 25-20 set victory.

VICTORY MADE POSSIBLE

The second set was like a whole different team, as Biola ended with a 25-10 victory made possible by 15 kills and zero attacking errors. Biola got out to a good start in the third set, and had their largest lead at 21-14. HUI then went on a 7-1 run to bring the game to 22-21 in Biola’s favor. The Eagles had just enough offense to finish out the set at 25-22 and keep their streak against HUI alive. A particular standout for the Eagles offensively was senior Joclyn Kirton, who led all hitters with 14 kills.

This game against Hope International really showed that, in GSAC, no game should be taken lightly and that any team is capable of winning.

“The mindset [we have] is to not underestimate any team we play and to get better in each match,” said senior Britta Blaser.

Biola’s next match is against the William Jessup University Warriors, a team coming in at 4-8 overall and 0-2 in GSAC play. The two teams will face off at William Jessup at 5 p.m. on Sept. 18.