SPOKANE, Wash. – While playing a pair of five-set matches to open up its official 2018 campaign, the No. 19-ranked Corban University volleyball team won a nightcap thriller (25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 17-25, 15-12) over No. 12 Montana Tech to register the squad's first victory of the year. For the Warriors, it marked the first triumph over Montana Tech during the time head coach Kim McLain has been at Corban's helm.

"It was a great first day playing against two tough teams," said McLain. "I am proud of how the team continues to get better at doing the little things and working together!"

After Corban took a two sets to none lead, Montana Tech stormed back to take the next two sets and send it to the fifth. In the deciding stanza, the Warriors seized control early with a 5-0 lead and eventually led 9-7. Corban then finished off their Montana foe via the three-point victory on a kill from Adriana Aguayo.

Rookie Cassie Cunningham actually led the way for the Warriors in the win with 12 kills, while Aguayo totaled 11. Also explosive in the attack were Demi Winters, Jacquelyn Clark, and Avari Ridgway, as the trio combined to rack up 20 kills between the three.

Jadyn Mullen dished out 24 assists, while Cierra Leopoldino tallied 20. Defensively, Madison Pfaff registered 15 digs, while Kealani Ontai totaled 10 digs. At the net, Corban recorded 16 blocks overall, with Winters, Aguayo, and Clark combining for all but four of them.

Montana Tech hit for a better overall percentage in the loss to Corban, but the Warriors were able to rack up 21 more digs than did Tech, resulting in the five-set triumph for Corban.

Earlier in the day, Corban almost pulled out another five-set win, with the first one coming against Lewis-Clark State College. After falling behind by two sets, Corban came from behind and forced a fifth, only to eventually fall by three points in the fifth. Highlighting the match offensively for Corban in that defeat was Aguayo with 13 kills.

Corban (1-1) is back in action on Saturday when it takes on Carroll College (Mont.) at 1 p.m. LIVE STATS will be available here.