KINGSVILLE, Texas – Trailing 0-2 with three pairs remaining, the No. 1-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team (5-2) completed the comeback against NCAA Division One University of Utah (1-2) in a 3-2 final score, while ending their tourney appearance later this afternoon with their first winless match of the year against NCAA DI University of Louisiana Monroe (4-0).

"This tournament did exactly what we needed it to do, we got tested day one and used that to refocus on our goals which helped us turn around and get a good win against Utah," Warriors' Head Coach Diana Villalpando shared on her team's successful Texas road trip.

"Although we didn't play well against ULM, they played very well against an extremely tough team. We walked away feeling pretty good about the weekend. But there is a lot we still need to accomplish as a unit to be the best we can be," Villalpando elaborated.

The Warriors kicked off the second day of the Nick and Dee Herman Invitational with a massive upset for NAIA Beach Volleyball programs nationwide, as they eked out a 3-2 victory over NCAA DI University of Utah by winning the final three pairs of the match.

After the fours and fives dropped their matchups for Corban in two extremely close three-set games, the top three pairs for the Navy and Gold gutted out the upset bid down the stretch, starting with a two-set sweep for the two pairs, junior Kianna Keeling and sophomore Maya Blake.

Senior Avari Ridgway and sophomore Megan Dennis completed yet another come-from-behind victory in the showdown of the top pairs, dropping the first set before going on to win the next two in dominate fashion.

With the match tied at 2-all, it all came down to the three pairs for who was going to take the dual, with the Warriors relying on sophomore Jessica McMillian and senior Ally Schmidt to lead them to a possible huge upset over the Utes. After Utah tied the matchup with a second set win, McMillian and Schmidt dug deep in the Texas sand to finish the match off with a 15-12 third set victory, providing Corban with the division one upset win.

The Navy and Gold struggle to find the same consistency in their final matchup of the tourney against another NCAA DI school in the University of Louisiana Monroe, who handed the Warriors their first sweep loss of the season. Keeling/Blake and McMillian/Schmidt were the only pairs to force a third set, as the team will settle for a 2-2 showing at an extremely competitive NCAA tournament slate.

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

Corban University 3, Utah 2

1. Megan Dennis/Avari Ridgway (CRB) def. Amaya Messier/Katie McAlister (UTAH) 15-21, 21-13, 15-11

2. Kiana Keeling/Maya Blake (CRB) def. Grace Andrews/Bella Vezzani (UTAH) 21-18, 21-19

3. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) def. Abby Karich/Marissa Koch (UTAH) 21-18, 9-21, 15-12

4. Sydney Jacinto/Kylie Pitzak (UTAH) def. Jolinn Daviscourt/Emmi Marks (CRB) 21-11, 22-20

5. Savannah Cottam/Sonja Wessel (UTAH) def. Aiyana Henderson/Kealani Ontai (CRB) 22-20, 21-18

Ext. Chloe Narancich/Azure McOmber (UTAH) def. Tyra Ching/Kalisi Latu (CRB) 21-15, 16-21, 15-8

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

Louisiana Monroe 5, Corban University 0

1. Julia Blazek/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Megan Dennis/Avari Ridgway (CRB) 21-17, 21-17

2. Rylin Adams/Madeline Marquez (ULM) def. Kiana Keeling/Maya Blake (CRB) 20-22, 21-14, 15-13

3. Tamsie Black/Brooke Hoven (ULM) def. Jessica McMillian/Ally Schmidt (CRB) 18-21, 21-16, 15-9

4. Avery Reynolds/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Emmi Marks/Jolinn Daviscourt (CRB) 21-12, 21-15

5. Kaylie Beck/Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Kealani Ontai/Emmi Marks (CRB) 21-8, 21-10

Ext. Katie Felts/Madeline Williams (ULM) def. Aiyana Henderson/Kealani Ontai (CRB) 21-15, 15-21, 15-11

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

The No.1-ranked Warriors will return home to the pacific northwest to prepare for the next local round robin tournament of Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) schools, as they'll head to Southern Oregon University to take on the Raiders (2-3) and get their first look of the season against the Bushnell University Beacons (3-0).

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