SALEM, Ore. – The No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball program hosted day one of the second Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) tournament of the regular season on their home courts throughout Friday afternoon, where the Warriors picked up crucial wins over Simpson University and No. 7-ranked Southern Oregon University to remain undefeated in conference play through four contests. The Raiders picked up a reverse sweep victory in the tourney opener over Bushnell University for their first conference win of the year.

"Today was a battle and we stepped up to the challenge," Corban head coach Dan Stephens shared on the Warriors' duals from today's conference matchups. "Simpson came out fighting and they competed well for just getting their program started. Southern Oregon was the rivalry we have come to expect. They show up to play when they meet us and today was no exception. The energy and excitement around the courts, with each team cheering, made it a fun atmosphere and I would expect to see that again tomorrow when we battle them again."

Dual 1 – #7 Southern Oregon 3, Bushnell 2

In the Raiders' (3-5, 1-1) first conference contest of the year, it was the Beacons' (0-4, 0-4) who put the nationally ranked Southern Oregon squad on their heels early with convincing wins in both the second and fourth overall pairings to lead 2-0 heading into the back half of the dual. Bushnell's Olivia Kelzenberg and Jazymn Wilcox fought off late rallies from Raiders' Grace Gulbrandson and Linda Conceicao to win 24-22 and 21-19 set scores in the twos, while Sydney Myhre and Laci Jespersen picked up 21-16 and 21-19 set wins over Natalie Perez and Andressa Ribeiro Soares.

However, SOU bounced back stronger than ever in the first, third, and fifth pairs to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory, clinching the reverse sweep in the No. 5-pairs where Kendal Hadwick and Skyy Nihipali-Botelho cruised to 21-12 and 21-17 set scores against Beacons' Haley Engelbrecht and Monet Panther. The reverse sweep earned the Raiders' their third win overall in 2025, while preventing Bushnell from etching their first dual win of the season. 

1. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmerman (SOU) def. Kate Palelek/Makenna Mosher (BU) 21-13, 21-11

2. Olivia Kelzenberg/Jazmyn Wilcox (BU) def. Grace Gulbrandsen/Linda Conceicao (SOU) 24-22, 21-19

3. Kira Sandoval/Lucretia Benolken (SOU) def. Anessa Stotts/Jadeya Hayes (BU) 21-18, 21-13

4. Sydney Myhre/Laci Jespersen (BU) def. Natalie Perez/Andressa Ribeiro So. (SOU) 21-16, 21-19

5. Kendal Hadwick/Skyy Nihipali-Bo. (SOU) def. Haley Engelbrecht/Monet Panther (BU) 21-12, 21-17

Ext. Addison Weckerle/Vitoria Mattos (SOU) def. Hannah Brunston/Reagan Walker (BU) 21-15, 21-12

Order of Finish: 6,4,2,1,3,5

Dual 2 – #2 Corban 5, Simpson 0

The No. 2-ranked Warriors (6-1, 4-0) introduced the Red Hawks (0-1, 0-1) to the beach volleyball scene in their first counting contest as a program with a 5-0 sweep, as the Navy and Gold picked up straight-set victories over Simpson in every pair for their first clean sheet of the season. The most dominant result of the dual came in the fourth pairing with reigning NAIA Pair of the Week junior Alexis Adebodun and freshman Gabi Engels securing 21-11 and 21-7 results over Red Hawks' Dani Rydjord and Emilly Melo.

In total, Corban allowed 106 total points to be scored across five pairs against Simpson for an average of just over eight points per set played. Joining Adebodun and Engels in allowing fewer than 20 points in their pairing were sophomores Cammie Masanda and Danae Stokes at the second overall pairs via 21-9 and 21-12 set scores.

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Abigail Shackelford/Tiara Manns (SU) 21-11, 21-11

2. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Madison Kammuller/Paige Creasey (SU) 21-9, 21-12

3. Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Lynette McKenzie/Mackenzie Tataryn (SU) 21-7, 21-18

4. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) def. Dani Rydjord/Emilly Melo (SU) 21-11, 21-7

5. Erin Scott/Payton Bazant (CRB) def. Kare Ann Oshiro/Rylee Bringgold (SU) 21-7, 21-13

Order of Finish: 4,2,5,3,1

Dual 3 – #2 Corban 3, No. 7 Southern Oregon 2

The head-to-head matchup the entire conference was waiting to see played out was the late afternoon premiere in day one of the Corban tournament, as the No. 2 Warriors and No. 7 Raiders added yet another instant classic to their conference rivalry that saw the host program pick up where they left off in last year's NAIA West semifinal stage.

Since the beginning of the 2024 regular season, Corban and Southern Oregon's beach volleyball teams have fought down to the final pairs, with each of their previous five matchups being decided by a 3-2 final score. The Warriors are now winners of the previous two meetings and four of their five down-to-the-wire heavyweight brawls.

Three of today's pairs went to a winner-take-all third set, with both the twos and fours ending in comeback fashion. Masanda and Stokes picked up 21-18 and 15-8 sets to avenge a 22-20 opening set loss to Gulbrandsen and Conceicao, while SOU's Perez and Andressa Ribeiro Soares shook off a 22-20 collapse to Adebodun and Engels to win the fours via 21-18 and 15-11 scores and tie the dual at one pair apiece.

The Corban fives of redshirt sophomores Erin Scott and Payton Bazant were the first to secure a convincing victory from either squad, defeating Southern Oregon's Hadwick and Nihipali-Botelho via 21-10 and 21-13 decisions. Despite a hard-fought second set where they needed to come-from-behind to secure the dual victory, senior Jessica McMillian and junior Emmi Marks picked up 21-13 and 23-21 straight-set wins over SOU's Kira Sandoval and Lucretia Benolken.

Finally, the Raiders' earned a morale victory in the ones where Madi Gray and Tessa Zimmerman were able to defeat senior Megan Dennis and sophomore Emma Bischoff for the first time ever, securing a 21-18 first set, dropping a 21-19 second set, and holding off the Warriors' top duo 15-13 in the third to conclude the day atop Corban's campus.

1. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmerman (SOU) def. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) 21-18, 19-21, 15-13

2. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Grace Gulbrandsen/Linda Conceicao (SOU) 20-22, 21-18, 15-8

3. Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Kira Sandoval/Lucretia Benolken (SOU) 21-13, 23-21

4. Natalie Perez/Andressa Ribeiro So. (SOU) def. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) 20-22, 21-18, 15-11

5. Erin Scott/Payton Bazant (CRB) def. Kendal Hadwick/Skyy Nihipali-Bo. (SOU) 21-10, 21-13

Ext. Sydney Sanford/Jordan Faircloth (CRB) def. Addison Weckerle/Savannah Schwindt (SOU) 21-12, 21-16

Order of Finish: 6,4,2,5,3,1

Day two of the Corban conference tournament will feature the Warriors and Raiders competing for nationally recognition once again at 12pm, while the Beacons and Red Hawks will face off in two separate duals at 10am and 2pm.

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