IRVINE, Calif. – It was a battle of the PacWest's top two teams, and the Golden Eagles came ready to defend their nest.
In front of an electric Golden Out crowd, Concordia University Irvine women's volleyball went toe-to-toe with first-place Biola University in a five-set thriller on Wednesday night. With the student section bringing the noise and the stakes running high, the Golden Eagles battled their way to a statement victory on their home court.
After falling to Biola in four sets earlier this season, Concordia was looking to flip the script. The Eagles entered the night with a 10-1 home record and a 10-2 conference mark, sitting just behind Biola in the PacWest standings.
Biola came out swinging in the opening frame, narrowly taking the first set 25-22. However, Concordia wasted no time responding. Behind relentless service pressure and complete control on both sides of the net, the Golden Eagles dominated the second set 25-9. CUI kept Biola on its heels throughout the frame, holding the conference leaders to single digits and bringing the Gold Out crowd to its feet.
The third set turned into another back-and-forth slugfest as Concordia showed its grit, clawing its way back from a deficit. Despite the late push, Biola escaped with a narrow 26-24 victory to take a 2-1 advantage. With their backs against the wall, the Golden Eagles refused to fold. CUI came out firing in the fourth set, establishing control early and maintaining its composure as Biola attempted to close the gap. Concordia's presence at the net and offensive firepower proved too much, securing a commanding 25-14 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
With the match hanging in the balance, the intensity inside CU Arena reached another level. The Gold Out crowd erupted as the Golden Eagles continued to battle through a high-pressure fifth set. Concordia displayed clean, composed volleyball, limiting unforced errors and establishing a strong presence at the net. With every rally carrying more weight, the Golden Eagles held their ground and ultimately sealed the five-set victory over the conference leaders.
The Golden Eagles' dominance from the service line was one for the record books, as Concordia recorded the most service aces in a single match in program history. The relentless pressure kept Biola on its heels throughout the night, playing a crucial role in CUI's five-set victory.
Senior Kayden Croy was a force to be reckoned with, delivering an outstanding all-around performance with 15 kills, six service aces, and five block assists. Croy hit an impressive .333 on the night, helping fuel Concordia's offensive attack while applying relentless pressure from the service line.
Fellow senior Emma Wegleitner brought the heat offensively, leading the Golden Eagles with a team-high 18 kills while adding 12 digs to secure a double-double. Wegleitner continued to provide a strong presence on both sides of the court, helping keep Concordia in the fight throughout the five-set showdown.
Setter Nevada Knowles kept the Golden Eagles firing on all cylinders, dishing out a team-high 40 assists while adding six kills, five service aces, and 12 digs. Knowles also recorded five total blocks, including two solo blocks and three block assists, while hitting an impressive .417 on the night.
The win marked another impressive chapter in Concordia's season as the Golden Eagles continued to make CU Arena a difficult place for opponents to play. After falling to Biola in their previous meeting, CUI answered the call in front of its home crowd, proving that the battle at the top of the PacWest is far from over.
The Golden Eagles are 11-2 in conference with an 18-4 record overall. CUI will travel down to San Diego to face off against #18 Point Loma on Oct. 24th at 2:00pm.
