LA MIRADA, Calif.–Point Loma was on the road Friday night for a huge match on the road at Biola. Riding an eight-game win streak, the Sea Lions needed a big win to stay in contention for a PacWest championship. With Biola coming off of a rivalry loss at Azusa Pacific, snapping a 10-match winning streak, the Eagles were looking to bounce back and take revenge for the early season loss in San Diego. Biola was able to put together a complete game as they hit .434 as a team and powered to a three-set victory.
Set one was tight throughout, with each team putting together solid offensive efforts. The Sea Lions put together a balanced attack with four different players totaling three or more kills for the set, but the Eagles defense proved up to the task. Biola totaled 14 digs to Point Loma's nine and pulled out the 25-19 win after closing the match on a 7-2 run.
The Eagles used that momentum to power out to a 5-1 lead in set two before PLNU used a 7-2 run of their own to get back in the set. The Eagles used a 6-1 run to give themselves a five-point cushion, 19-14, and it would be too much for the Sea Lions to overcome as the Eagles took the set to give them a huge 2-0 match advantage.
Defense was key once again in set three as the Eagles totaled 19 digs to the Sea Lions 11. Point Loma struggled to put down a kill while Biola continued to hit at a high percentage. The Sea Lions went up 5-4 early in the set, but a 9-1 run by the Eagles pushed the momentum in favor of Biola and Point Loma was unable to find a way to score as they fell 25-13 in the final set.
The middles found solid success for the Sea Lions with
Kayla Chapman totaled nine kills while
Madie Fox put down eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Both middles also came away with two blocks on the night.
Cara Keturakis dished out 29 assists on the night and has now worked her way into the top-ten for all-time assists in PacWest history.
Team Records
PLNU (15-8, 12-4 PacWest), BU (19-6, 15-3 PacWest)
PacWest Implications
The Sea Lions drop into fourth place with the loss and now need a solid finish to the season in order to contend for a PacWest championship. The Eagles put themselves in great position to capture the title with only four matches remaining on the season.
Turning Point
After coming back from five points down in set two, the Sea Lions came within one point of the Eagles at 20-21. But Biola put together a four-point run to close out the set and gave the Eagles the huge 2-0 set advantage.
Scott's Thoughts
On Biola's competitiveness: "That match was a classic example, it happens in every sport, and it was what I was most afraid of last week against APU, where [Biola] had just lost and they were hungry. We are on this winning streak and we are feeling good about ourselves and we were complacent. Hungry will beat complacent regardless of anything else."
On the efficiency of the middles: "Our middles are getting better and better, our connection is getting better. The ironic thing is that was about as bad as we've ever passed and they still were able to be quite effective. I wish they could have gotten more opportunities."
On getting prepared for tomorrow's match: "We've got to think about ourselves right now, find a way to get that hunger back. If we play with this level of complacency again I don't see who we will beat."
Scoring Summary
Set 1: BU 25, PLNU 19
Set 2: BU 25, PLNU 20
Set 3: BU 25, PLNU 13
News and Notes.
> Keturakis now as 2,869 assists for her career, she can reach 3,00 for her career if she averages 30 assists over the next six matches.
>
Madie Fox had hit .429 or better in three of the last four matches.
> The Eagles had two players hit .800 or better, Sierra Bauder went 9-for-9 through the first two sets.
> After seven straight matches with at least 7.5 blocks, the Sea Lions totaled only four blocks on the night.
> 13 of Keturakis' 29 assists came in the first set alone.
Up Next
The Sea Lions have a quick turnaround to host Concordia Irvine in Golden Gym tomorrow evening at 5 p.m.
