Doug Pfeiler

No. 3-ranked Westcliff was able to outlast the Navy and Gold in a five-match heartbreaker, claiming a 3-2 victory over Corban.

Beach Volleyball 4/9/2022 12:08:00 PM Jarett Thoren, Associate Athletic Director

No. 6 Corban Beach VB Falls in Five in Heartbreaker at Cal-Pac Championship

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – It came down to the very end in Saturday morning's Cal-Pac Tournament Championship between the No. 6-ranked Corban University beach volleyball team and No. 3-ranked Westcliff University. The two teams—both bearing the Warrior mascot—fought tooth and nail for the title and an automatic bid to the NAIA National Invitational, but Westcliff was able to outlast the Navy and Gold in a five-match heartbreaker, claiming a 3-2 victory over Corban.

"It came down to ball control and who was going to be more aggressive," head coach Diana Villalpando said after the tough loss. "We put up a tough fight and I was so proud of how we traveled and took care of business on days one and two. These women are so strong and competitive, and next year we will be even better."

It was a back-and-forth battle from the onset, as the squads traded wins to force a deciding fifth match between the No. 3 tandems.

The third flight went to the third set, as Corban's Keeling sisters eyed a win against Elena Eckhardt and Megan Yoon, who haven't lost a match all year. Eckhardt and Yoon were able to hold onto the victory, however, granting Westcliff its first conference championship—in any sport—in the school's young history.

#3 Westcliff 3, #6 Corban 2

1. Avari Ridgway/Makenna Campbell (CRB) def. Gianna Guinasso/Sierra Lim (WU) 26-24, 21-17
2. Kylie Cordero/Brooke Scheidle (WU) def. Nicole Bantilan/Maya Blake (CRB) 21-11, 21-19
3. Elena Eckhardt/Megan Yoon (WU) def. Kianna Keeling/Cameron Keeling (CRB) 19-21, 21-13, 15-10
4. Briana Ayala/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Maddie Shepston/Ava Wright (WU) 15-21, 24-22, 15-11
5. Elise Brown/Kenidi MacDonald (WU) def. Jolinn Daviscourt/Megan Dennis (CRB) 21-17, 21-19

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

Corban (16-4) comes just one match shy of representing the capital city in the inaugural NAIA Beach Volleyball National Invitational, but the squad's season isn't done yet. The Warriors will send representatives to the AVCA Small College National Championships, which will take place on April 14-16 in Tavares, Fla.