SALEM, Ore. – Ever since Corban University announced the addition of beach volleyball as a varsity sport offering back in March of 2019, excitement has been high to see the program in action. After the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the squad's premiere last spring, the Navy and Gold finally got an opportunity to make its premiere on Thursday afternoon, falling to NCAA Division I University of Oregon by a 4-1 score.

RESULTS

Beyond the final result, there was an air of excitement and hopefulness surrounding the squad at the conclusion of Friday's dual, with Thursday's contest representing the promising beginning of an era for the program.

The No. 2 pairs were the first in action on Corban's Beach Volleyball Courts, with Briana Ayala and Kaitlin Hunter falling to Oregon's Savannah Siegrest and Delaney Hopen in a straight-set win for the Ducks (21-17, 21-15).

Oregon's Josie Cole and Zoe Almanza earned a sweep of their own (21-19, 21-15) in the battle of No. 4 duos, downing Jacquelyn Clark and Jolinn Daviscourt.

Next up were the No. 5 and No. 3 pairs, where the Ducks earned another straight-set triumph via Bea Wetton and Ashley Schroeder's defeat of Corban's Haley Paul and Natalia Olabarrieta (21-12, 21-15).

The matchup of No. 3's was gritty from start to finish, as Nicole Bantilan and Kalisi Latu became the first Warrior pair to win a set in program history when they earned a 22-20 triumph in game one against Vivian Donovan and Madelyn Lafollette. The Ducks would bounce back to take the next two sets, however, setting Oregon up for a dual sweep in the final match of the day.

Corban's Melanie Miller and Lauren Condon would have different plans, though. Unfazed by a 21-17 loss in game one to Carly Wallace and Anastasia Lima, the veteran duo claimed a resilient 21-17 win in the second set, eventually edging the Ducks' top duo via a nail-biting 15-13 victory in the rubber game.

With the win, Miller and Condon become the first members of the Warrior beach volleyball program to win a match.

In many ways, the triumph was a symbolic representation of the level of talent the Navy and Gold possesses, as the Warriors fought hard and stood toe-to-toe with a Pac-12 powerhouse throughout Thursday's action.

Corban (0-1) will return to the sand in a few days, hosting NCAA Division I University of Portland in a scrimmage.