Photo credit: Kemar Prince
SALEM, Ore. – With a 22-18 fourth-set lead, it looked like the Corban University volleyball team was headed for its fourth five-set match of the season. But the Warriors couldn’t hang on, as Northwest University rallied to score the final seven points of the stanza en route to a 3-1 Eagle victory (25-15, 24-26, 25-15, 25-22).
In the opening frame, the Warriors established a 5-4 lead after a service ace by senior defensive specialist Karisa Legg (Murrieta, Calif.). However, the Eagles responded with a 6-0 run capped by a service ace by sophomore libero Leia Roy. Corban couldn’t get closer than five points and only connected on six kills in the stanza, adding up to a 25-15 first-set defeat.
An exciting second set saw Corban race to a 6-3 lead capped by a kill by freshman outside hitter Shantelle Hill (Pasco, Wash.) After Northwest battled to take a 12-11 advantage, the Navy and Gold channeled its serving game, which braced a 10-3 run that included aces from freshman defensive specialist Kasey Calderon (Murrieta, Calif.) and junior defensive specialist Kelsey Wright (Beaverton, Ore.). After the Eagles knotted the set at 24, freshman defensive specialist Rachel Smith (Moscow, Idaho) connected with senior outside hitter Claire Bailey (Santa Rosa, Calif.) to swing in for a kill, bringing Corban to set point. A Northwest attack error on the following play granted the Warriors its first set victory (26-24) since Sept. 12.
No doubt the quickest set of the match, set three found Corban struggling with its attack, as the Warriors swung for a – 0.059 hitting percentage compared to a 0.243 clip by Northwest. After the Eagles raced to a double-digit lead, 19-9, the Warriors assembled a 3-1 run thanks to a trio of Northwest errors. However, the Eagles went on to take the set, 25-15.
In a back-and-forth fourth set, Corban crawled to a 16-14 lead following a kill by Hill thanks to the assist from senior libero Katherine Salness (Portland, Ore.), forcing Northwest to take a timeout. Moments later, a service ace by sophomore setter Mikenzee Frazier (Lebanon, Ore.) gave the Navy and Gold its largest lead of the set (22-18). But that would be the last time the ball would slam into Eagle territory, as Northwest rallied to score the final seven points of the match en route to the 25-22 fourth-set win.
Hill led Corban’s offensive attack with 11 kills and six errors on 29 attempts. Bailey and senior outside hitter Miah Smith (Lebanon, Ore.) chipped in seven kills apiece. Sophomore setter Haley Meili (Eugene, Ore.) finished just shy of a double-double with 17 assists and eight digs. The Warrior back row was led by Salness, who collected a season-high 25 digs on the night.
The Eagles were led by freshman outside hitter Amanda Waterman, who posted a double-double with 11 k ills and 14 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Hanson played big on the front line, as she recorded 14 kills and compiled five block assists on the evening. The match marked the Eagles’ first road victory this season.
As a team, the Warriors attacked for a 0.030 percentage compared to a 0.192 mark by the Eagles. Northwest notched 51 kills and 23 errors on 146 attempts, while Corban recorded 33 kills and 29 errors on 135 attempts.
The Navy and Gold returns to the hardwood on Saturday to take on The Evergreen State College in Salem, Ore. at 5 p.m.