On Wednesday Oct. 1, the Biola Eagles will face longtime rivals Azusa Pacific University (APU) at 6 p.m. in home territory at Chase Gymnasium. This will be the second matchup of the Cornerstone Cup in what will be the final year of the rivalry. The volleyball squad is 6-1 at home as they head into Wednesday’s match.
CORNERSTONE CUP
The Cornerstone Cup is a yearly competition between Biola University and APU that totals points from each of the schools’ rivalry matchups and names an overall winner after each academic year. Stretching from fall soccer to spring track and field, the cup has served as an official determination of the cross-town rivalry since its inception in the 2017-18 academic year.
“The Cornerstone Cup rivalry is something that we established with APU when we made the move to NCAA Division II and first participated in Division II conference competition in 2017,” said Senior Director of Athletics, Bethany Miller. “We tally our head-to-head competition across all sports and there is a winner at the end of the year.”
Biola has lost the Cornerstone Cup every year, with their closest performance being in 2022-23 when they scored 65-85 overall. This time around, however, they are off to a good start, as the men’s soccer team beat the Cougars in a shutout match (1-0) last Saturday.
It is an important start for the Eagles, because this year is Biola’s final opportunity to take home the Cornerstone trophy. Last March, Azusa Pacific announced their move to the NCAA Division III, adding football and joining the SCIAC conference starting fall 2026. This move means that they will no longer compete with Biola on a regular basis, putting an end to the Cornerstone Cup.
WEDNESDAY’S MATCHUP
The Eagles are poised to continue their early lead against APU on Wednesday, having dominated their home court 6-1 this season and ranking slightly higher than the Cougars overall.
Miller said she has enjoyed seeing more students show up to support their Eagles this fall, adding that student support builds excitement and acts as a springboard for community and belonging.
“I think our student body is enjoying the events and the opportunity to develop friendships while having Biola spirit,” Miller said. “There is something special in the camaraderie of an athletic event where we are able to cheer and engage as a supporter who holds passion and unity.”
To promote the match, Biola Athletics is giving away pink Biola University hats to students who arrive early. And while some students show up for the free merch, those who return do so because they enjoy the relationships and community that supporting friends, or Biola in general, can bring.
