SALEM, Ore. – The 2022 season could not have been a more eventful and historic year for the Corban University Beach Volleyball program. One of the newer sports added to the NAIA in recent years, collegiate Beach Volleyball held their first ever National Championship tournament in the spring of 2022.

The tournament was headlined by various NAIA schools from Florida, California, and the lone Oregonian school in Corban University. On April 23rd of last season, the Warriors defeated then No. 1 Vanguard University to win the inaugural NAIA Invitational Championship in Panama City, and now look to repeat their success with another exciting and talented group of incoming recruits.

"With the addition of 2 impact players from indoor volleyball, a couple transfer blockers and another batch of freshman defenders, this class is steady all the way through," Warriors' Head Coach Diana Villalpando said when asked about the new additions to her squad. "I'm excited to add depth to our roster and bring some blocking to our lower pairs. It just makes our program so much more competitive. This is a great recruiting class and I'm excited to see what they bring this season and for years to come."

To read up more on the new additions to the 2023 Corban Beach Volleyball roster, see below for a brief biography on each of the new recruits.

Abigail Bond – 5'10" – University Preparatory HS – Visalia, Calif.

Hailing from the Golden State, Bond brings an athletic pedigree to the Navy and Gold. Bond's mom, Sarah Todd, played Indoor Women's Volleyball at Southern Idaho while her dad, Aaron, played baseball for the MLB Texas Rangers organization. Bond credits her passion for beach volleyball from her club volleyball coaches, Tori and Tyler Ortman.

Bond is pursuing a Kinesiology degree while attending Corban with the intention of becoming a Beach Volleyball coach herself.

Payton Bazant – 5'7" – Bishop Carroll HS – Calgary, Alberta

Bazant joins Corban after a decorated high school career, where she participated in indoor volleyball, pole vault, field hockey and badminton at Bishop Carroll High School. Bazant earned Honor Roll recognition in three seasons, as well as Athlete of the Year and Volleyball Player of the Year.

Bazant will pursue a Biomedical Science degree while attending Corban with plans of becoming a doctor.

Jade Ilaoa – 5'7" – Walla Walla HS – Walla Walla, Wash.

Ilaoa joins Corban after a fantastic indoor career at Walla Walla High School. She was a four-year indoor girls' volleyball player at Walla Walla, where she earned Second Team All-League and First Team All-League accolades during her career.

Ilaoa is pursuing a Biomedical Science degree with the intention of becoming an orthodontist following Corban.

Erin Scott – 5'3" – South Albany HS – Albany, Ore.

Scott, a 2021 graduate of South Albany High School, joins the Corban beach squad after a successful indoor girls' volleyball career. As the libero for South Albany, Scott earned Honorable Mention honors in the 2019 season.

Scott is currently undecided on what degree she will pursue at Corban.

Aiyana Henderson – 5'10" – Joel E. Ferris HS/Los Angeles Harbor College – Spokane, Wash.

Henderson brings an impressive resumé to the beach courts at Corban. Prior to Harbor College, Henderson was a four-year indoor volleyball player, earning Second Team All-Greater Spokane Honors in her senior season. Henderson also participated in track and field for three years. After graduating from Joel E. Ferris High School, Henderson attended Los Angeles Harbor College, where she earned First Team All-South Coast Conference Honors in volleyball. Henderson found herself in the top five of eight different conference statistical categories at the end of her solo season with the Seahawks.

Henderson is pursuing a Marketing degree at Corban with the goal of working in the non-profit organization world.

Angela Sullivan – 5'9" – Chiawana HS/Lower Columbia College – Pasco, Wash.

Sullivan joins us after a two-year stint at Lower Columbia College in the NWAC. While attending Lower Columbia, Sullivan participated in both indoor volleyball and softball. Sullivan boasts a diverse athletic background, hailing back to her time at Chiawana High School. She was a varsity athlete in volleyball, basketball, and softball, and was selected as an All-Conference Second-Team Setter in 2019.

Sullivan is currently pursuing an Elementary Education degree at Corban.

Emmi Marks – 5'10" – West Salem HS – Salem, Ore.

Marks, a Salem native, is the first of a trio of indoor volleyball players joining the beach volleyball squad this season and the only lower classman to do so. Marks was originally recruited to the Warriors to compete in both indoor and outdoor volleyball after her successful career at West Salem High School.

Marks is pursuing a Kinesiology degree while at Corban.

Ally Schmidt – 5'11" – Sweet Home HS/Linn Benton CC – Sweet Home, Ore.

After a distinguished career competing for the Corban indoor volleyball team, Schmidt brings her talents to the beach courts for her final season of competition. She played in 79 matches over the past three seasons, contributing to a very talented front line that led the Warriors to multiple CCC and NAIA tournament appearances. Schmidt finished ninth all-time in blocks per set (0.80) in just three seasons of play. Not only was she a force at the net, but Schmidt also earned All-Conference Academic Honors in every eligible season.

Schmidt is finishing her Mathematics degree at Corban with the intention of teaching secondary education teacher.

Kealani Ontai – 5'4" – Kamehameha Kapalama HS – Pearl City, Hawaii.

Ontai, one of the most decorated indoor volleyball players in Corban program history, joins the beach squad for her final semester of eligibility. She finished her indoor career at first overall in career digs at 2,481, third all-time in digs per set at 4.31, and seventh all-time in total service aces at 131. Ontai earned multiple CCC All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors during her time on the indoor court, finding herself on the All-Conference listing at the end of every season.

Ontai is finishing her Kinesiology degree at Corban over the spring term.

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