SNOHOMISH, Wash. – In their first nationally ranked matchup of the 2024 season, the No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team showed they haven't lost their hold on the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), as the Warriors clutched out a 3-2 match victory over RV Southern Oregon University to sit atop by themselves in the CCC standings with an unblemished 4-0 conference record.

"Today's match against SOU was the battle I expected," Corban head coach Dan Stephens stated when asked to discuss their big conference victory over Southern Oregon. "SOU is extremely skilled and played very well today. We're proud of how we stepped up to the challenge in our top pairings and took the victory. The losses in the fours and fives were all good experience for our younger players. We will get back to practice on Monday and work on improving in the areas the match showed us we need more work in. Once again, very proud of the team and of Coach Ridgway and Coach Ontai for their steady leadership in the players' corner. Thanks to all the fans that traveled and cheered us on, it was a fun atmosphere!"

With the second and fourth pairs playing first, the Warriors (6-1, 4-0) were able to take a narrow advantage at first with the twos of junior Jessica McMillian and freshman Danae Stokes taking back-to-back 21-17 set scores over their Southern Oregon (4-1, 3-1) counterparts. However, the Raiders tied up the match in the fours with down-to-the-wire set victories over Corban's sophomore Erin Scott and freshman Jordan Faircloth, 21-19 and 21-18.

Southern Oregon took their first match lead of the day and only the second that Corban has faced all season long after the fifth pairs belonged to SOU, with Warriors' freshmen Cammie Masanda and Allyson Reid falling via set scores of 21-19 and 21-14. Facing just their second loss of the season directly in the face, the number Warrior pairing of redshirt junior Nicole Bantilan and sophomore Emmi Marks responded with dominant 21-7 and 21-11 sets over the Raiders third pair, with just the top overall pairs remaining.

Having lost just one bout all year long, the Corban top pairing of junior Megan Dennis and freshman Emma Bischoff were challenged early in their matchup with SOU's Madi Gray and Tessa Zimmermann, dropping the first set 21-17 and needing to win the next two in order to clinch the match.

A 21-16 second set in favor of Dennis and Bischoff allowed the first-year partners to force a winner-take-all third set with every member of their teams now supporting from the sidelines with every other match now having been completed. As to be expected with a pair of programs that are both receiving votes in the national top 10 poll, both the top pairs fought valiantly, but fortunately for Warrior Nation, it was Dennis and Bischoff who held the upper hand when all was said and done in their 15-12 third set finale. With the win, Corban stays perfect all-time against Southern Oregon at 5-0 in their matchups since the start of 2023, with the Raiders still playing catchup in their attempt to dethrone the Warriors.

#2 Corban 3, (RV) Southern Oregon 2

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmermann (SOU) 17-21, 21-16, 15-12

2. Danae Stokes/Jessica McMillan (CRB) def. Kira Sandoval/Grace Gulbrandsen (SOU) 21-17, 21-17

3. Emma Marks/Nicole Bantilan (CRB) def. Taylor Jackson/Bayleigh Wodke (SOU) 21-7, 21-11

4. Annie Hite/Skyy Botelho (SOU) def. Jordan Faircloth/Erin Scott (CRB) 21-19, 21-18

5. Natalie Perez/Natasha Perez (SOU) def. Cammie Masanda/Allyson Reid (CRB) 21-19, 21-14

The No. 2-ranked Warriors will take the off-week from CCC play to hone their skills even further in a week where they'll play three duals with NCAA DI programs, starting on Thursday, March 21st when they travel to Eugene to try earning their first career win over the University of Oregon Ducks (1-11) at 2pm.

Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email

Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android