The NAIA No. 9-ranked Sea Lions were upset for the second time in a row, this time by No. 19-ranked Biola University 3-1 (25-16, 15-25, 25-23 and 25-20) Saturday in Golden Gym. PLNU fell to 5-5 in conference and 15-5 overall.
 
The Eagles improved to 5-5 in GSAC and 14-7 overall.
 
Despite having four players out on injuries, including team kills leader Kelsey Christoferson, the Eagles managed dominate on defense with 18 blocks to PLNU's six and 72 digs to the Sea Lions' 67. The teams were even on kills with 46 apiece, though the Sea Lions hit only .082 percent.
 
The Sea Lions lost the first set early on, as the Eagles jumped out to a 10-1 lead from which PLNU would never fully recover. In the second, however, pulled ahead from a 5-5 deadlock to outscore Biola 20-10 in the remainder of the set.
 
PLNU was poised to win the third set, in which they led 23-20, needing only two points to win. But the Eagles mustered five consecutive points, three on Sea Lions errors, for the 25-23 victory. The win gave Biola the momentum it needed, as it went on to the 25-20 win in the fourth and final set.
 
PLNU's Tabitha Henken led the floor in kills, with 13 and 16 digs, followed by Alyssa Pitkin with 10 winners. Nicole Eiler had 16 digs and Kylie Morel had 21 assists.
 
For the Eagles, Tavea Hampton led the attack with 12 kills, followed by Kim Russel with 10. Justine Schoneveld had 41 assists and Janae O'Connor had 24 digs.
 
The Sea Lions take on No. 1 Fresno Pacific University at Fresno at 7 p.m. Friday.

-Nathan Scharn