SALEM, Ore. – In the first ever opening day of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Beach Volleyball Championships, the No. 2-ranked and No. 1-seeded Corban University Beach Volleyball team played out their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups on their home courts as the tourney host, taking a 3-0 sweep over No. 4-seeded Northwest University before clinching their fourth win of the year against No. 7-ranked and No. 2-seeded Southern Oregon University in a 3-1 final score. Every match played on Corban's campus this week will be played to decision, with the match ending on the spot once a third pair has been won by a team.

"We're really proud of the fight these sandy Warriors put up today!" exclaimed Corban head coach Dan Stephens following his team's 2-0 day one in the CCC Tournament. "Another great team effort and it was great to come out on top. The conference starts to hit its stride about now, as everyone gets good enough weather to have practice consistently so there's no easy matches. We will need a good performance tomorrow to come out on top once again."

CCC Quarterfinals – #2 Corban 3, Northwest 0

In the second overall match of the day following the Raiders' tourney opening quarterfinal victory, the Warriors (19-1) jumped out to an early 1-0 pair lead over the Eagles (6-11) after junior Alexis Adebodun and freshman Gabi Engels sprinted to 21-12 and 21-6 set scores over NU's Sophia Rice and Oriana Muliaga in the fourth-overall pairing.

Dropping their opening set to Northwest's Masa Spela Jarc and Aubree Dees unearthed a spark within sophomores Cammie Masanda and Danae Stokes in the twos by clinching a comeback with 21-12 and 15-11 scores in the second and third sets to put the Navy and Gold one pair away from moving on to the next round of the conference tournament. They found that final pair win from the CCC Pair of the Year in senior Jessica McMillian and junior Emmi Marks, as they defeated NU's Kylie Rankins and Ellie Van Berkum in straight sets 21-19 and 21-12.

With play abruptly ending for two of the unfinished pairs, redshirt sophomore Erin Scott and Rebecca Wilber led their fives matchup 21-15 and 15-8, while the top overall Corban pairing of senior Megan Dennis and sophomore Emma Bischoff didn't even complete their opening set, which they led 18-9.

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) led Caitlyn James/Kylie Lunday (NU) 18-9 (truncated)

2. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Masa Spela Jarc/Aubree Dees (NU) 11-21, 21-12, 15-11

3. Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Kylie Rankins/Ellie Van Berkum (NU) 21-19, 21-12

4. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) def. Sophia Rice/Oriana Muliaga (NU) 21-12, 21-6

5. Rebecca Wilber/Erin Scott (CRB) led Kali Dransfeldt/Ava Hoy (NU) 21-15, 15-8 (truncated)

Ext. Sydney Sanford/Jordan Faircloth (CRB) def. Kylie Gajudo/Hailey Edwards (NU) 21-9, 21-8

Order of Finish: 4,6,2,3

CCC Semifinals – #2 Corban 3, No. 7 SOU 1

In what many expected to be the most exciting matchup of the day, the Warriors and Raiders (15-8) didn't leave fans disappointed, as all five pairs went the distance in three-set thrillers across the Corban sand courts. An even 1-1 pair split between the twos and fours, with Adebodun and Engels emerging victorious for the Navy and Gold, meant the final three pairs would be a best 2-of-3 scenario.

Corban took a 2-1 pair lead following Scott and Wilber's marathon in the fives, defeating SOU's Skyy Nihipali-Botelho and Kendal Hadwick via 21-14, 20-22, and 15-13 set scores. With the threes and ones in a decisive third set going point-for-point down the stretch. Dennis and Bischoff clinched the 3-1 victory narrowly over Raiders' Madi Gray and Tessa Zimmermann to close out their fourth win of the year over SOU, as the threes were one point away from falling in favor of Southern Oregon.

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmerman (SOU) 21-19, 18-21, 15-11

2. Grace Gulbrandsen/Linda Conceicao (SOU) def. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) 21-14, 15-21, 19-17

3. Kira Sandoval/Lucretia Benolken (SOU) led Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) 28-30, 21-13, 14-11 (truncated)

4. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) def. Natalie Perez/Andressa Ribeiro So. (SOU) 22-20, 13-21, 15-13

5. Rebecca Wilber/Erin Scott (CRB) def. Skyy Nihipali-Bo./Kendal Hadwick (SOU) 21-14, 20-22, 15-13

6. Kaile'a Ontai/Payton Bazant (CRB) tied Addison Weckerle/Vitoria Mattos (SOU) 22-20, 23-25

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

Tomorrow afternoon, the No. 2-ranked Warriors will battle either the Raiders or No. 3-seeded Yotes of The College of Idaho at 12pm for a CCC Championship, with the opposing team to Corban needing to beat them twice in the double elimination tourney to prevent the Navy and Gold from taking the crown. The if-necessary second championship match will take place one hour after the completion of the 12pm match should it take a seventh tournament contest.

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