MESA, Ariz. – Just two victories separate the No. 3-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team from their second NAIA National Invitational Championship, as the Warriors cruised to a 4-1 pool play victory against No. 2-ranked The Master's University to earn the top seed out of Pool B during the bracket play reseeding, setting them up for a dominant 3-0 sweep against No. 5-ranked Ave Maria University to book their fifth-consecutive national semifinal appearance. Corban University is the only NAIA program to earn five-straight national semifinal appearances and will have the opportunity tomorrow to become only the second repeat champion during the emerging sport's short existence as one of the final four teams standing in southcentral Arizona.

"We started the day with a tough match against The Master's and getting that win allowed us to have a break in the day before we had to play again this afternoon/evening," Warriors' head coach Dan Stephens explained regarding their day two action at the national tourney. "It was a good team effort with different pairs stepping up at crucial times across both matches today. We need to be sharp tomorrow morning against our conference rivals and friends from Southern Oregon University, and it will take everything we have to get that semifinal win."

Only the Warriors (28-7) and No. 4-ranked Ottawa University-Arizona (OUAZ) have completed days one and two of the 2026 NAIA National Invitational a perfect 4-0 with no losses to their names, with Corban initially splitting their first two pairs with the No. 2-ranked Mustangs (19-9) at the 2s and 4s before rattling off three-straight flight victories to claim Pool B and the top overall reseed position for bracket play. The most impressive victory for the Dubs against TMU came in the fives, as junior Jordan Faircloth and sophomore Rebecca Wilber continued their dominance in Mesa behind 21-17 and 21-9 set scores.

Following the final set of pool play matchups, the Navy and Gold were assigned the No. 5-ranked Gyrenes as their national quarterfinal opponent, with Ave Maria being upset by No. 8-ranked Wayland Baptist University to break their tie and fall to the final seed out of Pool A. With all the momentum firmly on the Warriors' sideline, they were able to engage the automatic cruise control and outscore Ave Maria by an overall point total of 209-140, a 69-point difference and an average of over six points per set that was complete or at least started.

Trailing 11-9 at the third set side swap, redshirt junior Erin Scott and freshman Emily Blagg completed an impressive comeback victory to reclaim the fourth pairing and provide Corban with a 2-0 pair lead, as they outscored Ava Winkler and Beatriz Rissi 6-2 over the final eight points, including the final four points of the matchup. Brady The Warriors' third-overall duo of senior Alexis Adebodun and junior Cammie Masanda closed out the 3-0 sweep that was played to decision starting in bracket play with an emphatic 21-11 and 21-15 sweep of their Gyrene counterparts.

Pool B – Dual 3 | #3 Corban 4, #2 The Master's 1

1. Emmi Marks/Emma Bischoff (CRB) def. Zoe Yates/Emma Winter (TMU) 21-18, 21-17

2. Ashlan VanGronigen/Isabela Rodriguez (TMU) def. Gabi Engels/Allyson Reid (CRB) 21-18, 18-21, 16-14

3. Cammie Masanda/Alexis Adebodun (CRB) def. Ashlyn Unruh/Addy Brock (TMU) 21-18, 15-21, 15-6

4. Erin Scott/Emily Blagg (CRB) def. Macy Gebhards/Krista Brady (TMU) 17-21, 21-10, 19-17

5. Rebecca Wilber/Jordan Faircloth (CRB) def. Kayla Goodwin/Arianna DeRaffaele (TMU) 21-17, 21-9

NAIA Quarterfinals | #3 Corban 3, #5 Ave Maria 0

1. Emma Bischoff/Emmi Marks (CRB) led Adriana Bravo/Mara Delyon (AMU) 21-19, 11-8

2. Gabi Engels/Allyson Reid (CRB) def. Ryan Getz/Ines Lopes (AMU) 21-8, 21-15

3. Cammie Masanda/Alexis Adebodun (CRB) def. Elle Malcsewski/Greta Heiney (AMU) 21-11, 21-15

4. Erin Scott/Emily Blagg (CRB) def. Ava Winkler/Beatriz Rissi (AMU) 21-14, 18-21, 15-

5. Rebecca Wilber/Jordan Faircloth (CRB) led Abbey Grose/Maylis DeTar (AMU) 21-10, 18-6

For a sixth time in 2026, the Warriors and No. 1-ranked Raiders (22-3) will clash with a spot in the NAIA National Championships dual on the line tomorrow at 10am back at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. On the other half of the bracket, OUAZ will battle Wayland Baptist, with the winner of that dual also advancing to the national tournament.

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