SALEM, Ore. – A complete team effort resulted in another early evening for the No. 5-ranked Corban University Volleyball team, as the Warriors coasted to a straight-set sweep of Multnomah University via 25-15, 25-9, and 25-13 set scores. Tonight's victory locks in an undefeated start to Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play for the Navy and Gold after sweeping the Portland schools.
"Tonight's game was one of the best all-around team performances we've had this season," head coach Kim McLain said following the final contest of the weekend for her squad. "Everyone played their roles at a high level and kept the errors to a minimum, something we've struggled to do around the court prior to tonight. Our depth at each position shined brightly tonight and I'm proud of the girls for staying locked in for the entire match!"
Just like in last night's match against Warner Pacific University, the Warriors struggled early to find their energy in the first set, allowing the Lions to hang around within just a few points and even seeing a tied score on multiple occasions. However, a five-point run midway through the set provided Corban with enough momentum to force Multnomah into a timeout and stretch the lead to 16-9. The advantage would prove to be too egregious for the Lions to overcome, even despite a timeout on set point, which an attacking error provided the Warriors with a 25-15 first set victory.
The second set was all Corban from the start, as the Navy and Gold took advantage of Multnomah miscues and utilized their own offensive strengths to build a 13-4 lead and never looked back. The Warriors ended the set on a 12-4 run, highlighted by back-to-back kills from sophomore opposite hitter Makayla Roginski, a service ace from junior setter Courtney Garwood, and the final kill by junior middle blocker Allyson Reid.
Corban's longest point rally of the evening came at the beginning of the third and final set, where they found paydirt on eleven-straight plays to open up a 16-4 lead allow Coach McLain to bring in the reserves, allowing fifteen total Warriors to see the court and partake in the team's third consecutive sweep.
Freshmen stars in the making were the highlight of the Navy and Gold's win this evening, as middle blocker Emma Bischoff was responsible for nearly half of the team's service aces with a trio on her own, while outside hitter Kendra Bittle tied the game-high mark in kills with eight on an incredibly efficient .636 attacking percentage. Roginski and junior outside hitter Rylee Troutman were the other Warriors with eight kills in the match, with sophomore Kylie Davey on their heels with six kills herself.
Bischoff added a pair of kills, a solo stuff, and two assisted blocks at the net in the Warriors' sweep. Sophomore setter Abby Guindy commanded the offense once again for sixteen assists and junior libero Marissa Uehara led all players with nine digs in the backcourt.
Lions' outside hitter Maya Blake held the team-high mark in kills with seven, yet eight attacking errors kept her in the negative for attacking percentage, as Multnomah hit -.078 as a team this evening, the second-straight opponent to hit under zero in a match against the Warriors. Outside hitter Aiyana Henderson dealt out seven assists, while libero Lauren Porter secured seven digs for the visiting team.
The No. 5-ranked Warriors will return to their home court for a midweek battle with the Beacons of Bushnell University (4-2, 2-0) in the first I-5 rivalry matchup of the 2023 season. The contest is scheduled to start at 7pm in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on Wednesday, September 6th.
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