GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Sun Conference proved to be no match for the No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team on the opening day of the 2025 NAIA National Invitational, as the Warriors battled No. 6-ranked University of Mobile (Ala.) and No. 7-ranked Webber International University (Fla.) to begin pool play and secured a 3-2 decision over the Rams before sweeping their mascot doppelgangers at WIU in a 5-0 drubbing.

"The national tournament is just as strong as we have been expecting," Corban head coach Dan Stephens explained shortly after the completion of their undefeated opening day. "We showed some nerves in the first match against Mobile and it ended up being a close dual that we won, but we responded well and settled in better against Webber. These Warriors keep fighting for each other and getting the job done and we are going to need to see that same fighting spirit to get through TMU tomorrow morning."

Debuting their 2025 national invitational appearance at 7am PT this morning, the Warriors (23-1) matched up with Mobile (27-7) for only the second time in program history, looking to avenge their AVCA championship loss from 2022 before Corban later won the NAIA national title. They left little to the imagination early against the Rams, as the Navy and Gold quickly jumped out to a 2-0 pair lead with sweeps in both the twos and fours.

However, Mobile jumped on the board with a straight set sweep of the fives, meaning between the top and third pairings, Corban would need to win one to clinch the dual whereas the Rams would still need both pairs. After falling behind early, senior Jessica McMillian and junior Emmi Marks rallied to take their opening set 22-20 and eventually a 21-17 second set to secure the dual victory for Corban. Mobile battled to a three-set win in the ones, but the victory would result in a moot point as the Warriors had already hung three pairs on the Rams and accepted the 3-2 opening match result.

In the afternoon matchup with Webber International (21-12), Corban replicated their success from the first dual with a 2-0 pair lead through the twos and fours, as sophomores Danae Stokes/Cammie Masanda and junior Alexis Adebodun/freshman Gabi Engels remained 2-0 on the day and didn't drop a single set.

For the second-straight dual, Marks and McMillian sealed the victory with a straight set victory in the threes, while senior Megan Dennis and sophomore Emma Bischoff rebounded from their opening dual pair loss with 21-12 and 21-15 wins over an All-Conference pair from the Sun Conference. Finally, after dropping the opening set 21-18 against Webber's Bryanna Marks-Craig and Anna Morton, redshirt sophomore Erin Scott and freshman Rebecca Wilber shook the rust off to complete a reverse sweep in the fives, taking the second and third sets 21-15 and 15-7.

#2 Corban 3, #6 Mobile 2

1. Aspen Adams/Layton Adams (Mobile) def. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) 21-19, 16-21, 15-9

2. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Emma McPherson/Jenny Cope (Mobile) 21-14, 21-7

3. Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Emma Hampton/Gabby Sheffield (Mobile) 22-20, 21-17

4. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) def. Emma Todd/Emily Osborne (Mobile) 21-12, 21-16

5. Jaci Drinnon/Rachel Dunaway (Mobile) def. Erin Scott/Rebecca Wilber (CRB) 21-13, 21-12

#2 Corban 5, #7 Webber International 0

1. Megan Dennis/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Nadia Reid/Kaylee Hunt (WIU) 21-12, 21-15

2. Cammie Masanda/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Delanie Johnson/Abby Baxter (WIU) 21-13, 21-10

3. Emmi Marks/Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Vivianne Cancio/Claire Jenkins (WIU) 21-19, 21-11

4. Alexis Adebodun/Gabi Engels (CRB) def. Kendall Seinart/Kiersten Tisdale (WIU) 21-18, 21-12

5. Rebecca Wilber/Erin Scott (CRB) def. Bryanna Marks-Craig/Anna Morton (WIU) 18-21, 21-15, 15-7

Due to impending thunderstorms in tomorrow's afternoon forecast, the NAIA has moved up all start times across their final pool play matchups and quarterfinal rounds, resulting in an 8am ET/5am PT matchup between two of the west coast-based programs, with the No. 2 Warriors and No. 3-ranked The Master's University (16-12) battling for the top Pool B seed before the sun rises in the pacific time zone.

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