SALEM, Ore. – Less than 24 hours removed from a five-set marathon against No. 4-ranked College of Idaho, the No. 6-ranked Corban University Women's Volleyball team returned to the court Saturday afternoon for another heavyweight Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) clash against top-ranked Eastern Oregon University. The Warriors captured the opening set win, but the unbeaten Mountaineers ultimately claimed a 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 victory inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
"I'm proud of the way our team fought against a strong Eastern Oregon team," explained Warriors' head coach Kim McLain. "Serving and passing were key factors in or offensive and defensive success. When we passed well, we were able to keep them out of system and create opportunities for ourselves. We need to continue improving on the little things and making better choices as matches get tighter. Those details make the difference in big moments. This was another great opportunity for us to learn, grow, and continue getting better as a team. We look forward to the journey ahead!"
The matchup featured two nationally-ranked CCC powers, as Eastern Oregon entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the NAIA with a perfect 16-0 overall record and 5-0 conference mark, while Corban (10-5, 3-3) looked to rebound from Friday's narrow five-set defeat to the Yotes.
Despite the quick turnaround, the Warriors came out firing in the opening frame, weathering several early runs from the Mountaineers and eventually seized control thanks to strong play from senior outside hitter Emma Bischoff, freshman opposite hitter Greta Van Gemert, and junior opposite hitter Lauryn Copeland. Trailing 22-21 late in the set, the Navy and Gold closed on a decisive 4-0 run behind kills from Van Gemert and Bischoff to secure the 25-22 opening-set victory and hand Eastern Oregon just its sixth set loss of the season.
The Mountaineers responded in the second set, using an early 7-2 run to establish momentum. Corban briefly trimmed the deficit to 16-13, but Eastern Oregon's balanced attack continued to apply pressure and eventually pulled away for a 25-18 win to even the match.
Set three proved to be the turning point of the contest. The Warriors kept the score tight early, trailing just 7-6 before Eastern Oregon strung together a 5-0 run to create separation. Corban fought throughout the frame behind kills from Bischoff, Copeland, and senior outside hitter Kendra Bittle, but the nation's top-ranked squad maintained its advantage and claimed a 25-17 decision.
The fourth set delivered another back-and-forth battle between the conference contenders. After falling behind by as many as seven points, Corban showcased its resilience with an impressive rally that erased a 17-13 deficit and ultimately tied the set at 20-20. However, behind the offensive firepower of Brooke Womack and Keira Vaughn, Eastern Oregon closed the match on a 5-1 run to preserve its unbeaten season and complete the four-set victory.
Bischoff followed her career-best performance from Friday night with another impressive outing, leading the Warriors with 16 kills and a match-high 19 digs for her second consecutive double-double. Van Gemert added 11 kills and three total blocks, while Copeland contributed nine kills. Bittle chipped in seven kills, seven digs, and a service ace, while setters Nadeiah Howard and Kawena Crowell combined for 42 assists. Defensively, junior libero Dani Street anchored the back row with 18 digs and a pair of service aces as Corban recorded 70 team digs.
For the Mountaineers, Womack led all players with 18 kills, 18 digs, and three service aces. Keira Vaughn added 16 kills, while Akylah Kaino contributed 10 kills of her own. Eastern Oregon's setter duo of Kate Stidham and Ava Semprimoznik combined for 43 assists and 29 digs as the Mountaineers hit .268 as a team.
The Warriors will look to bounce back next weekend when they continue CCC play at home against Oregon Tech on Friday, September 25th. First serve from the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center is scheduled for 6 pm as Corban begins another challenging conference weekend.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | YouTube | Email | Photo Galleries
