SALEM, Ore. – The No. 1 Corban University Beach Volleyball team (2-0) showed exactly why they're the reigning National Champions in their opening day dual matches of the 2023 Warrior Tournament, flying by the Northwest University Eagles (0-3) in a pair of 5-0 sweeps, dropping only two sets all day long.

"The girls came ready to play and I'm proud of the adjustments they made throughout the day," Warriors' Head Coach Diana Villalpando shared. "Even when they were faced with adversity, they dug deep and all managed to find a way to win every time."

Two of the four teams competing in the Warrior Tournament are brand new additions to the NAIA Beach Volleyball scene, with fellow Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) schools Northwest and Southern Oregon University participating in the programs' inaugural matches earlier this afternoon. The Raiders were bested 4-1 by Bushnell University, before taking a clean sweep of NU themselves in the 2pm time slot.

Only two Corban pairs faced adversity in having to play out a third set this afternoon, the first coming in their 12pm matchup with the Eagles in the fascinating one pairs. Senior Avari Ridgway and sophomore Megan Dennis ended up dropping their season-opening set to Eagles' Allie Flynn and Carlee Rowell but fought back to easily take the second set and then finish off a gritty third set performance to earn the clean sweep in the first match for both squads.

The second nailbiter came in the second match between the Warriors and Eagles, specifically in the matchup of the threes. Juniors Cameron Keeling and Nicole Bantilan also dropped a close first set 21-18, before roaring back to take the next two sets with authority, 21-14 and 15-5.

Every other matchup was decided in two sets in favor of the Navy and Gold, with multiple pairs keeping their opponents to single digit scoring in each set the entire day. The full results from today's matchups can be found below.

Corban University 5, Northwest University 0 – Match 1

1. Megan Dennis/Avari Ridgway (CRB) def. Allie Flynn/Carlee Rowell (NU) 17-21, 21-14, 15-10

2. Kianna Keeling/Maya Blake (CRB) def. Morgan Harter/Caitlyn James (NU) 21-10, 21-8

3. Cameron Keeling/Nicole Bantilan (CRB) def. Ellie Van Berkum/Kaitlyn Mickle (NU) 21-11, 21-6

4. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) def. Delaney Sparks/Masa Spela Jarc (NU) 21-2, 21-9

5. Jolinn Daviscourt/Emmi Marks (CRB) def. No player/No player (NU) 21-0, 21-0

Corban University 5, Northwest University 0 – Match 2

1. Megan Dennis/Avari Ridgway (CRB) def. Allie Flynn/Carlee Rowell (NU) 21-15, 21-16

2. Maya Blake/Kianna Keeling (CRB) def. Kaitlyn Mickle/Caitlyn James (NU) 21-12, 21-10

3. Cameron Keeling/Nicole Bantilan (CRB) def. Morgan Harter/Ellie Van Berkum (NU) 18-21, 21-14, 15-5

4. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) def. Delaney Sparks/Masa Spela Jarc (NU) 21-8, 21-8

5. Jolinn Daviscourt/Emmi Marks (CRB) def. No player/No player (NU) 21-0, 21-0

The Warriors will return to the courts for an early morning 10am PST match with Southern Oregon University (1-1), looking to make it a clean weekend sweep in their only remaining matchup of the tournament.

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