LA MIRADA, Calif. – Jade Strickland (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) scored four goals on Friday, but the Gannon women's water polo team lost its opener in the WWPA Championships 15-9 to Biola, the Western No. 1 seed.
 
Gannon, now 10-10 on the season, will face No. 3 Western seed Fresno Pacific on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. Fresno Pacific (10-12) lost to Mercyhurst 8-7 on Friday.
 
Biola (12-16) started quickly on Friday by taking a 6-2 lead in the first quarter. Gannon kept the score within striking distance the rest of the way but could not close the gap.
 
Strickland, Gannon's All-WWPA honoree, scored four times to lead Gannon. Molly Fehr (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) collected two goals and an assist, and Rachel Kreidinger (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) added one goal and two assists.
 
Ellie Velasco (Bronx, Calif./Arlington) and Sydney McGarry (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored one goal apiece for Gannon.
 
Molly Sebuina made five saves in goal for the Golden Knights.
 
Maria Roldan Gonzalez had four goals to pace Biola.