Season ends in semifinals

The women’s volleyball team suffered a five set loss to Park University in the semifinal round of the NAIA national tournament.

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Jenny Oetzell/THE CHIMES [file photo]

Jack Finck, Writer

The 2014 women’s volleyball season came to an end for Biola as they lost in the semifinals of the NAIA national tournament to Park University on Dec. 6. The Eagles fell to the Pirates in five sets.

Park University struck first, winning a close first set 25-23. The Eagles were down 24-20, and won the next three points in a comeback run that the Pirates stopped short.

Biola remained resilient and battled to win the next two sets. Senior middle blocker Amy Weststeyn earned three of the Eagle’s second set kills, including the last two points of the set.

The third set went back and forth from the beginning. After four lead changes Biola found themselves tied 27-27 against the Pirates. Freshman setter Allison Spencer fed junior outside hitter Alyssa Mason twice in a row for two clutch kills that led Biola to a third set victory.

The Pirates battled back to beat the Eagles in the fourth set 25-15. Biola had seven errors and a match low hitting efficiency of .033 percent. After four sets, the game tied at 2-2 and moved into a match-deciding fifth set.

The fifth set remained evenly split throughout the first half, resulting in a 8-8 tie midway through. From there the Pirates went on a 7-4 run to win the match and advance to the championship round.

Weststeyn led the Eagles in her last game for Biola with 17 kills, one ace and seven blocks. Biola finished their 2014 season, after tying for first place in the Golden State Athletic Conference, by losing in the semifinals of the NAIA national championship tournament.

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