The Lady Eagles finished off their season with a 5-set thriller in Riverside over the weekend, holding off a determined Cal Baptist squad who fought back from an early two-set deficit to force the fifth game.
The Eagles, ranked second nationally and in the GSAC, took on No. 7 Cal Baptist in a rematch of their October match, which Biola won 3-0. Playing at home, Cal Baptist wouldn’t go quietly, climbing back to stay in the match before eventually losing 25-22, 25-20, 10-25, 22-25 and 15-13.
“It was great to pull out a win at Cal Baptist’s gym,” said senior outside hitter Meghan Warkentin, who led the Eagles with 18 kills and a .245 hitting percentage. “They are a good team and it’s always harder to win a game on the road, so we are happy to have the win.”
Biola took the first two games despite relatively poor hitting numbers, but found strength in their defense and blocking, holding CBU to a .034 hitting percentage in the first two sets.
The next two sets were forgettable for the Eagles, as Cal Baptist handed them their worst loss of the season at 25-10 in the third. While Biola recovered from an early five-point deficit in the fourth, it wasn’t enough as CBU proved too much and went on to win 25-22.
It looked like Cal Baptist could run away with the upset in the fifth after creating a three point gap at 10-7, but a kill from senior outside hitter Jessica Buffum got the Eagles going. Biola won eight of the next 11 points to finish with a too-close-for-comfort 15-13 win.
“At first it was almost too easy and then we let up a little bit … they are a great team and we had to work for our victory,” said senior middle blocker Kristen Peterson.
With the victory, the Eagles finish their season with a 27-3 record overall, their best in team history, and finish with a 17-3 GSAC record, their best finish since 1998. The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in NAIA, make a mark in team history by going to nationals.
Biola has had extraordinary success this season despite playing in the ultra-competitive GSAC, which has seven teams in the top 25, and five teams in the top 10 national ranks.
As the season comes to an end, several Eagle seniors had some nostalgic moments as they looked back on their careers.
“Biola volleyball has been amazing. Something that I would never ever forget … I am truly going to miss them and this whole experience,” said senior outside hitter Maggie McGill.
As the Eagles longest tenured senior, setter Christina Perkins plans on continuing her volleyball career after leaving Biola. Leaving in January, she will be trying out in Europe with the hope of joining a professional team there. Still, her time here at Biola has been a special experience.
“I would just say that this year has been really special,” she said. “[It’s been] such a blessing for all us seniors to be with such amazing women of God and to succeed in doing what we love.”
“I am so blessed to have 17 other girls as my closest friends,” said Peterson. “I could not ask for more. … Win or lose I know that we will cherish the last time that us seniors will be all together again, as well as playing our last couple of games together.”
Biola honored their graduating players on senior night against Azusa Pacific. The seniors include Kelsey Mitchell, Kristen Peterson, Meghan Warketin, Maggie McGill, Christina Perkins, and Jessica Buffum.
The Eagles are off until Dec. 2, when the opening round of the NAIA National Championship will be held in Sioux City, Iowa.
