By Jacob Norling
October 31, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Ca.) Westmont Volleyball (8-14, 2-6 PacWest) was unable to hang with the Biola Eagles (14-7, 5-2) on Friday night in Murchison Gym, where BU left with a win in four sets. Westmont's ninth loss in its last 10 matches dropped the Warriors to 2-6 in countable PacWest contests.
 
The night began with another one of those sets that got away too quickly for the Warriors, with Biola taking the opener 25-16. The second set offered no sanctuary as well, with Westmont at one point looking up a 20-9 deficit. A late run made the final score more appealing at 25-21, but the damage was done to put Westmont on the brink.
 
It was briefly Westmont's turn to dictate the pace in a game they led early, with Westmont forcing a fourth set after taking the third 25-21. The fourth set was another that slipped away in its back-half, however, with Biola leading 23-16 before winning it 25-19 to clinch the match.
 
"I just felt like we lacked competitiveness tonight," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "I want to see us play with heart. Sometimes, I feel like our team has gotten used to losing, and that's not satisfactory. It doesn't matter what's happened in the past, we have to expect, or just believe we can win these matches."
 
Westmont was held to an attack percentage of .158 on Friday, while Biola hit .283 and out-killed the Warriors 60-53. Westmont was also credited with 27 attacking errors compared to Biola's 17.
 
McGolpin continued, "You know, we look to certain players to play well, and when they struggle, others around them have to play better. We struggled with certain players tonight, and the others around them, there was just no supporting cast.
 
"Everyone just has to get one-percent better. The way I see it, it is all on them at this point. How do they want to look in a Westmont jersey? What do they want their legacy to be? For our seniors the way I see it is there are four games left, three of them are at home. We have to be able to defend our home gym."
 
Tonight was Westmont's fourth loss in seven tries in The Murch, with Westmont losing all three of their home matches in October.
 
"I don't know, things were just hocus pocus out there tonight," concluded McGolpin. "In order to get better, I think we are going to have to have our young players step in. It is time for our young players to step up."
 
McGolpin's young roster will have the chance to get one-percent better on Wednesday night Azusa Pacific, when the Warriors host the Cougars at 7:00 p.m.