KINGSVILLE, Texas – The No. 1-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team got their first look at some incredible NCAA competition in Texas earlier today, as they split the opening day of the Nick & Dee Herman Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M University-Kingsville, by sweeping the NCAA DIII University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders (0-2) and then dropping their first dual of the season to the tournament host NCAA DIII Javelinas (3-0) in a hotly contested 4-1 pair decision.

"Today we learned a lot of lessons and it was good to see a team whose defense tested our offense," Corban Head Coach Diana Villalpando said later this evening. "TAMUK is a talented team, but we didn't do ourselves any favors in some areas of the game. Ultimately, we need to be better, and tomorrow we will have another opportunity with some even tougher teams."

The Warriors' first taste of competition from the south was eerily similar to their first three contests to open the season, as they managed to drop just a single set to the Crusaders in the third pair en route to a relaxing 5-0 sweep to open their busy weekend of tournament play.

However, the tournament host Javelinas couldn't let the No. 1-ranked NAIA Warriors escape the tourney with at least one blemish to their perfect record, as TAMUK breezed through the fours and fives before setting up three-straight matches to go to a third set, all of which Corban stood a chance at taking on multiple occasions.

Senior Avari Ridgway and sophomore Megan Dennis earned a come-from-behind victory in the battle of the ones to avoid the sweep, but the twos and threes each dropped heartbreaking third sets against Corban to allow the Javelinas to improve to 3-0 on the year and give the Warriors their first look at what fiercer competition will look like this season.

The full results from today's matchups can be found below:

Corban University 5, Mary Hardin Baylor 0

1. Megan Dennis/Avari Ridgway (CRB) def. Shelby Broekhuizen/Cameron Pesek (UMHB) 21-8, 21-8

2. Kianna Keeling/Maya Blake (CRB) def. Jada Kaye Wilson/Katie Warden (UMHB) 21-15, 21-10

3. Nicole Bantilan/Cameron Keeling (CRB) def. Aliana Rojas/Julianna Green (UMHB) 17-21, 21-17, 15-9

4. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) def. Gracia Nichols/Mindy Conger (UMHB) 21-15, 21-18

5. Emmi Marks/Jolinn Daviscourt (CRB) def. Avery Mercer/Faith Clark (UMHB) 21-9, 21-13

Ext. Sydney Sanford/Avaree DuMars (CRB) def. Maggie Dixon/Addison Ashley (UMHB) 13-21, 25-22, 16-14

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

Tex. A&M-Kingsville 4, Corban University 1

1. Avari Ridgway/Megan Dennis (CRB) def. Madelyn Wallace/Adrienne VanBrunt (TAMUK) 20-22, 21-17, 15-11

2. Rlyan Pollard/Rylie Anderson (TAMUK) def. Kianna Keeling/Maya Blake (CRB) 15-21, 21-19, 22-20

3. Grace Gettys/Olivia Zeigler (TAMUK) def. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) 21-17, 19-21, 15-8

4. Meghan Stiefer/Kalani Vasquez (TAMUK) def. Nicole Bantilan/Kealani Ontai (CRB) 21-17, 21-16

5. Taylor McCarthy/Jackie Alanis (TAMUK) def. Jolinn Daviscourt/Emmi Marks (CRB) 21-19, 21-11

Ext. Kiley O'Rourke/Jade Ilola (CRB) def. Elizabeth Williams/Delaney Evans (TAMUK) 22-20, 21-23, 15-11

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

The No.1-ranked Corban Beach Volleyball team continues their tourney run in Texas tomorrow against a pair of NCAA DI opponents in the University of Utah (1-1) and University of Louisiana Monroe (2-0), with each dual starting at 8am and 11:15am PST, respectively.

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