SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – After splitting their day one matchups yesterday to kick off the 2026 campaign, the No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team picked up a pair of nationally ranked wins over No. 9-ranked Hope International University and No. 4-ranked The Master's University, scoring a 3-2 reverse sweep over the Royals before avenging their season-opening loss to the Mustangs with an improved upon 4-1 victory.
"Today was a team effort to get the two match wins," shared Warriors' head coach Dan Stephens. "Both Hope International and The Master's are strong fundamental programs, and their players have good beach experience that showed today. We got multiple different pairings to play today, and it was fun to see everyone step up and compete, but then also cheer and support their teammates. We have a deep squad, and we can make adjustments when needed which will really help us throughout the season."
The depth of the Warriors' (3-1) squad showed today in Santa Clarita, as nine different pairings took to the sand and went 8-for-12 in matches won against their nationally ranked opponents from HIU (3-1) and TMU (2-1). In their opener with Hope International, the Royals jumped out to a quick 2-0 advantage in pairs won but would drop the next four, including a sixth exhibition win by Corban freshmen Abby Guindy and Jacquelyn Christiansen, 24-22 and 21-17.
Corban's top duo of senior Emmi Marks and junior Emma Bischoff defeated HIU's Kyla Dothard and Cole Mamea in 21-18 and 21-16 straight sets to give the Dubs their first counting pair of the match, while third pairing senior Alexis Adebodun and junior Cammie Masanda made quick work of their opponents via 21-11 and 21-9 set scores. With the match now tied at two pairs apiece, junior Stacie Alexander and redshirt freshman Katie Fraley rebounded from a second set loss after winning the first to clinch the comeback win for the Navy and Gold, defeating Phoebe Sebby and Katie Barclay 15-9 in the winner-take-all third set.
In their rematch with The Master's, Stephens switched up the pairings in an attempt to provide the entire travel squad with opportunities to redeem their season-opening loss to the Mustangs yesterday morning, which proved to be the difference maker as the Warriors claimed four of the five pairs necessary to earn a revenge victory. Marks and Bischoff secured their fourth win of the season atop the program's lineup, while Adebodun and Masanda were elevated to the second overall pairing and secured a perfect 2-0 record today. Finally, Alexander and Fraley joined Marks and Bischoff in the 4-0 club at the No. 4-pairing, while junior Jordan Faircloth and sophomore Rebecca Wilber picked up an impressive 21-13 and 21-8 win in the fives.
Dual 1 – #2 Corban 3, #9 Hope International 2
1. Emma Bischoff/Emmi Marks (CRB) def. Kyla Dothard/Cole Mamea (HIU) 21-18, 21-16
2. Sabrina Galassi/Bryce Swain (HIU) def. Gabi Engels/Allyson Reid (CRB) 26-28, 21-13, 15-7
3. Alexis Adebodun/Cammie Masanda (CRB) def. Maci Hendry/Carmelina Infante (HIU) 21-11, 21-9
4. Rita Nua/Cozette Zimmermann (HIU) def. Emily Blagg/Erin Scott (CRB) 21-17, 21-12
5. Stacie Alexander/Katie Fraley (CRB) def. Phoebe Sebby/Katie Barclay (HIU) 21-17, 19-21, 15-9
Ext. Abby Guindy/Jacquelyn Christiansen (CRB) def. Macy Thornburg/Madison Schweitzer (HIU) 24-22, 21-17
Dual 2 – #2 Corban 4, #4 The Master's 1
1. Emma Bischoff/Emmi Marks (CRB) def. Emma Winter/Zoe Yates (TMU) 21-11, 21-11
2. Alexis Adebodun/Cammie Masanda (CRB) def. Izabella Rodriguez/Ashlan Van Groningen (TMU) 22-20, 23-21
3. Ashlyn Unruh/Addy Brock (TMU) def. Payton Bazant/Maddox Snider (CRB) 21-15, 21-13
4. Stacie Alexander/Katie Fraley (CRB) def. Krista Brady/Arianna DeRaffaele (TMU) 21-16, 21-16
5. Jordan Faircloth/Rebecca Wilber (CRB) def. Kayla Goodwin/Jacklyn Gulielmana (TMU) 21-13, 21-8
Ext. Brandy Penberthy/Abbie Unruh (TMU) def. Zaliyah Malone/Elise Seals (CRB) 21-13, 21-16
The Navy and Gold will make the journey back to the Pacific Northwest and prepare to host back-to-back home weekends, beginning on February 20th when they host day one of the Corban Invitational. They will open the tournament at 9am against NCAA DI University of Portland, with three neutral site duals to follow on the Corban Beach Volleyball Courts.
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