GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – It didn't take long for the No. 1-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team to establish themselves in Tennessee to start the first day of the 2024 NAIA National Invitational, as the Warriors broke out the rare postseason brooms and swept both No. 5-seeded Webber International University (Fla.) and No. 8-seeded Ave Maria University (Fla.) in dominant 5-0 fashion to show exactly why they're the top seeded team in this week's tourney.

"We're incredibly proud of the girls' tenacity on the courts today," stated Corban associate head coach Avari Ridgway earlier this afternoon. "Facing unfamiliar opponents brings a whole new set of challenges, but they handled it with poise and determination. They swiftly adapted to different playing styles, court conditions, and weather. As we compete in the national tournament, we recognize the caliber of every team here and expect nothing less than their best efforts. Today, our victories were hard-fought, and we're primed to continue battling tomorrow."

Entering their third-consecutive NAIA national tournament in a brand new location, the Warriors put on a clinic in front of hundreds of Tennesseans and traveling fans bases who gathered for the first day of pool play. The opening flight pairs were unfazed in their sweeps over Webber International (18-9), with the twos pair of junior Jessica McMillian and freshman Danae Stokes snagging 21-19 and 21-17 wins, while fours pair of redshirt freshman Erin Scott and freshman Allyson Reid taking 21-18 and 21-14 victories to provide Corban with an early 2-0 lead.

Redshirt junior Nicole Bantilan returned from a nagging injury to play alongside sophomore Emmi Marks in the threes, where the duo showed they hadn't missed a beat despite missing multiple contests together in their 21-9 and 21-14 wins.

It wasn't until the last two pairs where the Navy and Gold were finally tested in the opening match with WIU, as both the ones and fives lost their second sets after winning the first to play in a winner-take-all third sets. Top overall pairing of freshman Emma Bischoff and junior Megan Dennis eked out a 15-13 result to keep Corban undefeated in Tennessee, while fives pairing of redshirt sophomore Sydney Sanford and freshman Cammie Masanda rebounded after a narrow 24-26 second set to win 15-8 and complete the first of two match sweeps.

Despite being ranked eighth in the eight-team tourney, Ave Maria (13-5) held their own for a majority of their pairings with the Warriors this afternoon, with three of the five bouts going to a third set, including both of the opening flight pairs. Both McMillian/Stokes and Reid/Scott won their first sets with ease, but then struggled to find their consistency in the second set and thus allowed their Gyrene counterparts crawl their way back into each respective matchup.

However, both Corban duos were able to clinch 15-10 set wins to set the Warriors up with a 2-0 lead once again. After Bantilan and Marks sprinted to victory once again in 21-4 and 21-12 scores, Bischoff and Dennis picked their first sweep of the tournament with 21-18 and 21-14 set decisions.

Finally, Sanford and Masanda were able to complete a reverse sweep after falling in the opening set, picking up 21-8 and 15-12 sets to complete the undefeated first day of pool play for the Navy and Gold.

No. 1 Corban 5, No. 5 Webber International 0

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Lily Arnold/Janna Morrissey (WIU) 21-12, 15-21, 15-13

2. Jessica McMillian/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Nadia Reid/Kiersten Tisdale (WIU) 21-19, 21-17

3. Emmi Marks/Kiley Power (CRB) def. Leyni Young/Kendall Steinert (WIU) 21-9, 21-14

4. Allyson Reid/Erin Scott (CRB) def. Delanie Johnson/Abby Baxter (WIU) 21-18, 21-14

5. Cammie Masanda/Sydney Sanford (CRB) def. Vivianne Cancio/Anna Morton (WIU) 21-10, 24-26, 15-8

No. 1 Corban 5, No. 8 Ave Maria 0

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Ines Lopes/Alayna Metherd (AMU) 21-18, 21-14

2. Jessica McMillian/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Reina Thomas/Lily Grasso (AMU) 21-14, 14-21, 15-10

3. Emmi Marks/Nicole Bantilan (CRB) def. Ryan Getz/DeAnna Barrett (AMU) 21-4, 21-12

4. Allyson Reid/Erin Scott (CRB) def. Hannah Jones/Beatriz Rissi (AMU) 21-16, 19-21, 15-10

5. Cammie Masanda/Sydney Sanford (CRB) def. Abbey Grose/Paeton Hyde (AMU) 15-21, 21-8, 15-12

One final pool play matchup awaits the Warriors tomorrow morning, as the results finishing their 10am ET/7am PT start time against No. 4-seeded Arizona Christian University (15-13) will determine who Corban will face in the quarterfinal round of bracket play during the afternoon session.

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