SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A revenge win over an NAIA powerhouse is a mighty accomplishment, but to do so on the national stage to end one season while continuing their own is even sweeter. Thanks to a dominant defensive effort from the No. 5-ranked Corban University Women's Volleyball team, the Warriors clinched a spot in the national quarterfinals for a second-straight season after sweeping No. 15-ranked Missouri Baptist University in their pool play finale. Corban takes the pool with a 2-0 record that featured sweeps over both the No. 15 and No. 22-ranked teams in the country and will have an opportunity to take down another nationally ranked foe for an 18th time in 2025.
"So proud of this group and how they rose to the occasion!" shared Warriors' head coach Kim McLain earlier today. "We knew we needed to be big at the net and disrupt their hitters, and our team executed the game plan with discipline and heart. I love the way they play together and trust each other in every situation. Their fight and connection showed this morning. Excited to keep this journey going into the final eight!"
After dropping a hard-fought non-conference match in August on the Spartans' (31-6) home court, the Warriors (27-5) were desperate for a rematch opportunity after being aced a season-high 14 times while attacking at just a .170 kill percentage. Missouri Baptist out-blocked Corban in that match and saw standout performances from multiple attackers. This time around, the gameplan was simple: limit the Heart of America Conference's Player of the Year and force others to rise to the occasion.
The Spartans led for a majority of the first set before the Dubs rattled off three-straight points to lead 22-19, forcing MBU into their final timeout in an attempt not to blow their first set advantage. The Warriors traded sideouts for the remainder of the set to pick up the ever important opening set victory.
Thanks to a 7-2 run to kickstart the second set, Corban never trailed and was able to cruise to a seven-point set victory, as they attacked at a match-best .276 rate for the period. After committing 30 errors in their five-set match in the non-conference slate, MoBap was tagged for 25 errors in today's three-set sweep and barely maintained a positive kill percentage at .037 overall.
With all of the momentum on the Warriors' sideline, they stormed out to a five-point lead in the third set at 11-6, but the Spartans refused to let their season go out in flames without forcing Corban to work for the victory, as they rallied take a one point lead at both 14-13 and 19-18 following extending scoring runs. However, back-to-back points by the Navy and Gold to go up 22-20 and eventually 23-21 following a pair of sideouts resulted in the final called timeout by MoBap, and the Warriors' 15th blocking play of the day set them up with match point. One sideout later, Corban would take the win on the Spartans' 11th service error of the contest.
A bounce back performance from senior opposite hitter Makayla Roginski powered the Warriors' limited offense after relying on their strong defense to take this contest in three sets, as she pummeled a team-best 12 kills behind a .250 kill percentage, four blocks, and four digs. Junior outside hitter Kendra Bittle and redshirt sophomore opposite hitter Taylor Kieser added seven and six kills, respectively, with Bittle sending back a career-high seven block assists at the net. Sophomore middle blocker Addison Mills led all players with nine block assists while adding three kills on offense.
Senior setter Abby Guindy continued her consistent start to her final trip to Sioux City with another 18 assists while digging up eight digs defensively, with junior setter Nadeiah Howard adding 13 assists and five digs in the second rotation. Finally, junior libero Kaile'a Ontai dug up ten digs in the backcourt to keep the Spartans' attackers in check.
In her final collegiate appearance, Missouri Baptist's all-time kills leader, opposite hitter Gabi Jakubowska, scored on another ridiculous 17 attacks yet the Corban defense forced her into committing ten attacking errors to lock up the international phenom. No other Spartan had more than five kills in today's rematch, which was represented by opposite hitter Allana Capella. Middle blocker Kassie Lee picked up seven block assists and a solo block, while libero Julia Reis Pereira led the field in digs with 14 in the backcourt. Setter Valentina Navarro dished out 23 assists and was one dig shy of a double-double performance.
If the No. 5-ranked Warriors want to keep their postseason alive in hopes of winning their first national championship, they'll need to do so by knocking off the two-time defending national champs in No. 8-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University (30-4) tomorrow in the national quarterfinal stage. First serve is scheduled for 2pm CT/12pm PT at the Tyson Events Center and will be streamed for free on the Urban Edge Network and NAIA Network.
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