CORVALLIS, Ore. – It's hard to imagine a better start to the 2021 season for the No. 15-ranked Corban University volleyball team, which was recently named the Under Armour Team of the Week by the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) office.

Corban has stormed out of the gates this season, heading to southern California and winning all six of its matches. Four of those were against opponents who are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll, including two road battles against No. 9-ranked Westmont College.

Competing in the Hope International University (HIU) Summer Slam, the Warriors dominated in a straight-set sweep of University of California, Merced (25-19, 25-9, 25-9) in the season opener, before defeating Benedictine University at Mesa in straight-sets (25-6, 25-13, 25-9) on day one of the tournament. On day two, Corban defeated (RV) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in four sets (25-19, 25-18, 18-25, 25-20), followed by a straight-set triumph over (RV) The Master's University (25-12, 25-18, 25-14). In total, Corban lost just one of the 13 sets it played in the event.

The Golden State trip culminated with two victories over No. 9 Westmont in a matchup of ranked NAIA squads. The Warriors from Oregon handed the Warriors from Santa Barbara their first home straight-set loss since 2014 (25-15, 25-19, 25-20) on Friday. In a back-and-forth battle on Saturday, Corban would come away with a hard fought (25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 25-12, 15-10) win, as well. Prior to this weekend's two home losses, Westmont had only lost at home twice in the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons combined.

Corban (6-0) will tune up this week with a scrimmage against Linn-Benton Community College and an exhibition versus Willamette University prior to opening CCC play on September 3-4.