LA MIRADA, Calif. – The OUAZ women's volleyball team split a pair of matches at the NCCAA West Regional Championship on Tuesday. OUAZ reached the championship match with a 3-0 sweep of Saint Katherine during the morning semifinal match, but the Spirit then fell to Biola in three sets in the championship match.
 
The split of the day moves OUAZ to 17-14 overall this season. By virtue of winning the title match, Biola (23-6) receives the automatic invite to the NCCAA National Championships. That means OUAZ will have to wait for an at large invite. The Spirit were No. 12 in the NCCAA power ratings released earlier Tuesday.
 
The Spirit got little resistance from Saint Katherine (15-14) in the morning match as the claimed the 25-23, 25-13, 25-21 victory. OUAZ hit .298 with 40 kills in their first sweep of the Firebirds in three tries this season.
 
In the win, Gianna Kioa led the team with 16 kills and .351 hitting. Austin Edwards added 11 kills on .529 hitting. Seleni Bartley recorded 13 digs and six service aces. Kelsey Marchant also had 13 digs and Rachel Kater finished with 31 assists.
 
The championship match was a little tougher as Biola took a 25-17, 25-21, 25-13 victory. OUAZ was held to 30 kills and .065 hitting while the Eagles compiled 39 kills and hit .233.
 
Kioa was the only OUAZ player in double figures with 12 kills. Jorie Mayfield had seven. Bartley posted 18 digs while Kioa added 11 for her eighth double-double of the season.