Volleyball traveled to Fresno, Calif. Friday for a PacWest matchup against Fresno Pacific University. The Eagles fought their way to a four-set win led by a dominant performance from junior outside hitter Sabrina Winslow, a native of nearby Clovis, Calif. who started her collegiate career at Fresno State University.
Biola took an early 14-4 lead in the first set thanks to many Sunbird hitting errors and two kills from senior middle blocker Sierra Bauder. The Eagles continued their strong start, pulling ahead 20-11 on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Savannah Hilde. They closed the set out 25-16 on a smash from Winslow.
The Eagles started off hot in the second set as well, taking an 8-1 lead on a block by Hilde and sophomore middle blocker Bekah Roth. After Winslow gave her team a 15-7 lead on a kill, the Sunbirds clawed their way back into the set thanks to a six-point run that tightened the score to 15-13.
Another FPU run later in the set gave them their first lead of the night at 19-18 as both teams battled back and forth. After trading points to the 20-point mark, the Sunbirds attack proved to be too much as they took the 25-22 comeback win to knot the game up at one set apiece.
After starting out slow to start the third set, the Eagles took an 11-8 advantage led by two more kills from Winslow. They stretched the lead to 21-14 on a smash from Bauder, and they closed the set out 25-18 on yet another Winslow kill.
In the fourth set, Biola came out focused and ready to close out the match taking a 7-3 lead on two more Winslow kills. The Eagles stretched the lead to 17-12 on a kill from senior outside hitter Hannah Van Warmerdam. Senior setter Brinley Beresford closed the match out with a kill as Biola took the set 25-17.
Winslow led the offensive attack with 15 kills followed by Bauder with 13. Roth had an outstanding night at the net, tallying six blocks while Bauder picked up four. Sophomore setter Vanessa Garcia put up 21 assists and Beresford recorded 18. Sophomore libero Sami Hover put up 14 digs to lead the back row.
Biola (11-5, 7-2 PacWest) continues action against first place Azusa Pacific University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
