The Eagles’ volleyball team had its championship aspirations shattered on Friday, falling victim to No. 3-ranked Concordia in the semifinal round. The Eagles split the season series with Concordia, with each team protecting their home courts.
With the loss, the Eagles fell to 31-4 on the season, still their best record in team history. All four of their losses came at the hands of the teams playing in the title game, Concordia and eventual repeat-champion Fresno Pacific.
The Eagles fell to Concordia in straight sets, unable to come back after losing the heartbreaking first set 29-27 before finally dropping the last two sets 25-17 and 25-22.
Seniors Meghan Warkentin and Jessica Buffum earned All-Tournament honors, while Warkentin also wrapped up her third straight NAIA First-Team All-America award and senior Kristen Peterson winning Third-Team All-American honors.
The team entered the season with high hopes, and throughout the season that has been evident in their play and attitudes. Despite being the highest-ranked team of any kind at Biola in years, the team was able to keep focused on the short-term.
“Honestly though, we are not even looking at rankings and are just going out to each game to beat the opponent,” said senior Maggie McGill earlier this year.
That trend continued, even as the Eagles began to climb the rankings moving from No. 4 to No. 2 in the final few rankings. The Eagles fought through injuries to Warkentin and Buffum while continuing to dominate competition, at one point running their winning streak to 15 matches.
The team traveled to Sioux City, Iowa with high hopes, after being the first Biola team to achieve a No. 2 ranking and hoping to improve on their Final Four finish last season.
As the Eagles’ season draws to a close, several Biola players finish their careers with impressive milestones. Warkentin finished in the top 10 at Biola in every major hitting category, while senior Kelsey Mitchell broke into the 1,000 kill club.
As the door closes on their playing days at Biola, the 2008 team will not soon be forgotten, nor will they forget about their time here.
Looking back at her time with the Eagles, Peterson said, “I thank God every day for putting me in the place and position that I was given here at Biola. I hope that we can be examples to others to show how you can glorify God in whatever you may do, even by playing sports.”
