(photo by Christy Effendie)

LA MIRADA, Calif.--No. 11 nationally ranked Biola took the doubles point and the top three singles matches to claim a 4-3 women's tennis win over Hawai`i Hilo on Tuesday afternoon at the Biola Tennis Center.

It was the 12th consecutive win for the Eagles, who improved to 15-1 on the season. Biola's only loss this season was to Hawaii Pacific in Honolulu (4-0), but they avenged that setback yesterday by defeating the Sharks in La Mirada (5-2).

The up-to-the-challenge Vulcans lost to Biola by that same 4-3 score back in February on Oahu in their season opener. UH Hilo is now 2-6 on the year. 

There wasn't any drama on this day despite the close score. The Eagles won the first four points to clinch the match before the Vulcans won the final three matches on courts four, five and six.

Nanami Okamoto got the Vulcans on the scoreboard first with a victory over Lilly McNeill on court four, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 10-5. Hannah Highsmith followed on court six when she defeated Inez Diaz, 6-4, 6-4 and Hikari Osaki picked up UHH's third point with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 5 over Brooke Fager. Okamoto and Highsmith also won their matches against Biola when the two teams met last month. 

Biola won at the top three singles spots in straight sets, and won two of the doubles matches by 6-0 and 6-1 scores. 

The Vulcans will continue their southern California trip with a Thursday match at Concordia in Irvine. Start time on the campus courts is 2 pm Pacific (11 am HT).

#11 Biola 4, UH Hilo 3
Biola Tennis Center, La Mirada, Calif.

SINGLES
1. Colbeyshae Emery (BU) def. C. Alfonsin (UHH), 6-3, 6-0.
2. Mary Brascia (BU) def. S. Dafincescu (UHH), 7-5, 6-3.
3. Alexandria Mann (BU) def. J. Barden (UHH), 6-2, 6-3.
4. N. Okamoto (UHH) def. Lilly McNeill (BU), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 10-5.
5. H. Osaki (UHH) def. Brooke Fager (BU), 7-5, 6-2.
6. H. Highsmith (UHH) def. Inez Diaz (BU), 6-4, 6-4.
Order of Finish: 1-2-3-4-6-5
 
DOUBLES
1. Emery/Brascia (BU) def. Alfonsin/Highsmith (UHH), 6-0.
2. Fager/Mann (BU) vs. Barden/Okamoto (UHH), 4-3, UNF.
3. Diaz/Gaby Cavajal (BU) def. Osaki/A. Ichikawa (UHH), 6-1.
Order of Finish: 1-2
 
TEAM RECORDS
#11 Biola 15-1, UH Hilo 2-6