LEWISTON, Idaho – Four match points had slipped away, and the No. 6-ranked Corban University women's volleyball team's path to a road victory had suddenly become much less certain. With No. 11-ranked Lewis-Clark State College threatening to force a fifth set Saturday afternoon, outside hitter Emma Bischoff supplied the finishing touch. The senior delivered each of Corban's final three points on kills, securing a 25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25 victory before a crowd of 1,002 at the P1FCU Activity Center.
"Our blocking at the net and defense in the back court made a huge difference tonight. We knew we had to serve tough, keep them out of system, and stay committed to our game plan. This team battled for every point, stayed together under pressure, and found a way to finish strong," Corban head coach Kim McLain said.
The Warriors improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play, moving a match ahead of LC State, who fell to 12-4 and 6-4. Both teams entered the afternoon with identical conference records, adding significance to a contest that grew tighter as the afternoon progressed.
Corban's ability to finish under pressure ultimately decided the match, but its blocking and serving helped establish control early. Trailing 8-6 in the opening set, the visitors rattled off eight consecutive points to turn a small deficit into a six-point lead. Senior outside hitter Kendra Bittle started the run with a kill before taking over at the service line, where she contributed an ace. Three Corban blocks during the surge repeatedly turned back LC State's attack, and a Bischoff kill completed the stretch for a 14-8 cushion.
LC State never drew closer than four points for the remainder of the set. Junior opposite hitter Lauryn Copeland provided three kills during the closing stretch, while Bittle added two more as Corban pulled away. The Warriors hit .278 and limited the hosts to .083, taking the opener 25-18 on an LC State attacking error.
The second set initially followed a similar pattern. Corban built a 15-7 lead behind a balanced offense, with Bittle, freshman middle blocker Eliana Klos, junior middle blocker Gracee Robertson, and Copeland all contributing kills. However, LC State gradually chipped away, winning six of seven points late in the set to pull within 22-21. Consecutive LC State attack errors gave Corban room to recover, and Bischoff finished a setup from redshirt sophomore setter Braeleigh MacAskill to secure the 25-22 win and a two-set advantage.
The home side's response resonated in the third. LC State recovered from an early 6-4 deficit and eventually moved ahead 14-10, forcing Corban to chase the score. The visiting Warriors fought back to tie the set at 17, 18, 19 and 20 points, but could not move in front. At 20-all, LC State collected four straight points, including two Alba Carpena kills, before closing out a 25-21 victory. The hosts hit .364 in the set, their strongest offensive performance of the match.
The fourth offered little separation through its opening stages before Corban broke through with five consecutive points for a 16-12 lead. MacAskill's service ace and a block from Bischoff and Robertson helped fuel the run, but LC State answered with four points of its own to draw even.
Corban responded again thanks to a Bittle-kill beginning another surge, with junior libero Dani Street capping it with an ace to put the Warriors ahead 22-17. Two late kills from freshman opposite hitter Greta Van Gemert brought Corban to match point at 24-20, seemingly placing the finish within reach.
Nevertheless, LC State refused to yield. A block stopped Bischoff, and Aubree Lane followed with three consecutive kills to erase all four match points and tie the set at 24. After a Corban timeout, Bischoff restored the lead with a kill off a senior setter Nadeiah Howard-assist. Another LC State block prolonged the contest, but Bischoff answered twice more, finishing sets from Howard and MacAskill to end the match and pick up the massive nationally ranked victory on the road.
Bischoff led all players with 16 kills and added 10 digs along with six total blocks, her sixth consecutive double-double outing dating back to September 16th. Copeland contributed 12 kills on a .321 hitting percentage, while Bittle finished with 10 kills and just one error in 19 attempts for a .474 mark. Howard distributed 27 assists and MacAskill added 17 more.
The blocking and serving McLain emphasized proved particularly valuable in a match where LC State led in both kills (59-55), and digs (68-59). Corban countered with a 12-5 advantage in blocks and twice as many aces, 8-4. Robertson recorded six block assists, Klos added five, and Street anchored the back row with 18 digs. Bittle, Street and Van Gemert each served two aces.
Lane paced LC State with 14 kills on a .423 hitting percentage in three sets, while Taylor Boyce and Hadyn Smith added 13 kills apiece. Teagan Scott recorded a match-high 31 assists, and Ella Stosich matched Street with 18 digs. Corban finished with a .231 team hitting percentage compared with LC State's .216.
The Warriors return to Salem to host I-5 rival and a receiving-votes Bushnell University program on Wednesday, Oct. 7th, at 6 pm inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. After holding off Saturday's comeback bid, Corban will face another test against the Beacons, who swept the teams' conference opener in early September.
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