SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University beach volleyball team cruised to a 4-1 victory over NCAA Division I University of Portland on Wednesday afternoon, sealing a win in the season series with the Pilots (3-1) with a strong performance in the mid-week matinee.  

Midway through the dual, the NAIA announced that the Navy and Gold jumped up two spots to No. 6 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, and the Warriors only added to their résumé with Wednesday's triumph.

"I'm so proud of how these girls came out ready to compete," said head coach Diana Villalpando. "It's hard to beat a team back-to-back, especially a good team. We trained very specific skills this week leading up to today, and they implemented everything well."

A thrilling three-set victory from Jolinn Daviscourt and Megan Dennis kick-started the day for Corban, and then Jessica McMillian and Briana Ayala outlasted Portland's No. 3 tandem in a nail-biting win immediately afterwards.

A straight-set win from Avari Ridgway and Makenna Campbell sealed the team's dual victory, and then No. 2 duo Maya Blake and Nicole Bantilan's three-set triumph rounded out Corban's four wins.

#6 Corban 4, Portland 1

1. Avari Ridgway/Makenna Campbell (CRB) def. Sarah Strong/Noelani Helm (UP) 21-16, 22-20
2. Maya Blake/Nicole Bantilan (CRB) def. Grace Zilbert/Charity Bradley (UP) 21-18, 14-21, 15-9
3. Jessica McMillian/Briana Ayala (CRB) def. Keilani Mumolo/Annika Stammberger (UP) 20-22, 21-18, 16-14
4. Sophie Lee/Taylor Helle (UP) def. Kianna Keeling/Cameron Keeling (CRB) 19-21, 21-17, 15-12
5. Jolinn Daviscourt/Megan Dennis (CRB) def. Kendall Nolan/Lia Hawkin (UP) 21-19, 18-21, 15-5
Ext. Talyn Jackson/Mileina Sniffen (UP) def. Kaitlin Hunter/Tyra Ching (CRB) 22-20, 21-18

Order of finish: (5, 3, 1*, 2, 4)

Corban (10-3) will round out its regular-season schedule this weekend, traveling south to battle Bushnell University on the road on Friday (6 p.m.) before hosting the Beacons at 2 p.m. on the following day.

"We still have games ahead of us," Villalpando added, looking at the road ahead. "We are committed to finishing this season strong."