PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite claiming the first frame, the Corban University volleyball team couldn't pull off the upset against (RV) Concordia University and fell to the Cavaliers in four sets (23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-15) on Friday night. The loss snapped the Warriors' two-match winning streak.

Concordia came out fired up for its Eighth Annual Dig Pink Night, as the Cavaliers jumped out to a 6-1 lead. However, the Warriors (5-12, 2-8 CCC) fought back thanks to freshman middle blocker Sloane Morrison (Edmonds, Wash.), who notched three kills in the midst of a 10-3 run. After freshman middle blocker Karen Blackmer (Everett, Wash.) swung in for a kill to give Corban a 19-16 lead, Concordia responded to score the next four points to regain the advantage. A Concordia (11-6, 8-2 CCC) attack error lifted the Warriors to set point, and then Morrison connected with sophomore setter Haley Meili (Eugene, Ore.) and set the ball into the Concordia hardwood to give the Navy and Gold the first stanza.

A kill by senior outside hitter Miah Smith (Albany, Ore.) capped a 7-3 run by Corban to begin the second frame. After the Cavaliers tied the set at eight apiece, Morrison received a pass from Meili and skied high for a kill to put the Warriors back on top. Trailing 16-18, the Navy and Gold used two attack errors and a service ace by Meili to take a 19-18 set lead. But that would be Corban's final lead of the set, as the Cavaliers closed the stanza on a 7-1 run to equalize the match.

The third set saw Corban's least efficient set, as the Warriors recorded nine attack errors. Despite the cold swinging, the Warriors managed to crawl to a 5-2 lead thanks to kills by Smith, Morrison and senior outside hitter Claire Bailey (Santa Rosa, Calif.). After the two teams traded points, freshman opposite hitter Shelby Miller (Lebanon, Ore.) attacked for a kill to give the Warriors its final lead of the set (10-9). Consecutive kills by Concordia sophomore outside hitter Brenna Huwe gave the Cavaliers a 25-15 set win.

The Navy and Gold never managed to claim the lead in the fourth frame. After falling behind 12-5, freshman middle blocker Bethany Filipenko (Salem, Ore.) gave the Warriors hope, notching two kills and a block assist to aid a 4-0 run. However, the Navy and Gold never got closer than four, and Concordia went on to claim the fourth set, 25-15, sealing the match.

Morrison paced Corban's attack with 18 kills, two shy of a season- and career-high. Meanwhile, Smith and Bailey chipped in eight and six kills, respectively. Senior libero Katherine Salness (Portland, Ore.) led the back row with 21 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Kasey Calderon (Murrieta, Calif.) also recorded double figures with 15 digs. 

As a team, Corban attacked for a 0.074 hitting percentage compared to a 0.217 clip by Concordia. The Warriors executed one of their best defensive performances of the season, collecting 72 digs in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) affair.

The Warriors return to action on Saturday to take on Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore. at 5 p.m.