SALEM, Ore. - Trailing two sets to zero, it looked as if the Corban University volleyball team was headed for its eighth three-set loss of the year in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play. But the Warriors had different plans, ultimately giving The College of Idaho all it could handle but eventually falling in five sets (25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-9) on Friday night. The Navy and Gold set a season-high for assists (59) and tied a season-high for total kills (60) in the losing effort.

In the first set, The College of Idaho (COI) rushed to a 6-0 lead, forcing Corban (7-18, 3-14 CCC) to call an early timeout. The Warriors inched their way back into the set thanks to the play of freshman outside hitter Shantelle Hill (Pasco, Wash.) and senior outside hitter Claire Bailey (Santa Rosa, Calif.), as they combined for five kills in the midst of a 12-9 Warrior run to cut the deficit to three (15-12). However, Corban could never get any closer. Trailing 24-18, Bailey attacked for two-straight kills, but then a kill by junior outside hitter Bailee Kendall granted the first stanza to the Yotes.

The second frame saw the Warriors play catch up, as COI (15-11, 12-5 CCC) never surrendered its lead after beginning the set on a 3-0 run. Corban cut the Yotes' lead to one on nine different occasions but could never get over the hump. The Warriors did manage to tie the set at 11 apiece after Bailey swung in for another kill, but COI responded to close the set on a 14-8 run en route to a two-set lead.

On Sept. 20, the Warriors lost in straight sets to the Yotes in Caldwell, Idaho. With COI ahead, 3-0, early in the third stanza, it looked as if history was going to repeat itself. But Hill had different plans for the Warriors, as she attacked for Corban's final four kills of the set to grant the Navy and Gold the third frame. At set point (24-20), she received a pass from sophomore setter Mikenzee Frazier (Lebanon, Ore.) and swung in for the kill to win Corban the set.

In the fourth frame, the Yotes raced to another early lead (7-2) following a kill by junior middle blocker Janessa Koelliker. On the next play, Bailey attacked for a kill which kickstarted an 8-3 Corban run to tie the set at 10 apiece. Trailing by one (18-17), Hill swung in for back-to-back kills to regain the lead for the Warriors. After COI tied the set at 19 all, a kill by freshman middle blocker Sloane Morrison (Edmonds, Wash.) permitted Corban the lead for good. At set point, sophomore setter Haley Meili (Eugene, Ore.) set up Hill on the left side for the kill to knot the match at two sets apiece.

COI continued to utilize quick starts to achieve momentum in each set, and it was eventually the final straw for Corban in a decisive fifth set. Trailing by five (7-2) in the final stanza, the Warriors tried to inch closer after a kill by Bailey cut the Yotes' lead to three (8-5), but it wasn't enough. At match point (14-9), COI's best attacker, senior outside hitter Emily Ottinger, swung in for a kill to award the Yotes a hard-fought victory.

Corban was led by Hill, as she dialed in a career- and match-high 21 kills to go along with 14 digs. The double-double marked her eighth of the 2014 campaign. Bailey compiled 11 kills and eight digs, while Morrison and senior outside hitter Miah Smith (Albany, Ore.) registered nine kills apiece. It was also a career day for Meili, as she notched a career-best 52 assists.

Four different players registered double-figure kills for the Yotes. Ottinger led the way with 16 kills, while Kendall and junior middle blocker Kylie Porter added 14 kills apiece. Moreover, junior setter Sierra Porter tallied her seventh 50 assist match of the season with 54 assists.

As a team, the Navy and Gold attacked for a 0.237 hitting percentage compared to a 0.266 clip by COI. The Warriors' attack percentage was their best effort in CCC play this season.

Corban returns to the hardwood for Senior Night against No. 11 Eastern Oregon in Salem, Ore. at 5 p.m.