Corban defeated NCU in straight sets on Tuesday night.
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University Volleyball team picked up right where it left off last weekend, recording a three set victory (25-19, 25-19, 25-19) in their Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) match against Northwest Christian University on Tuesday night. For the Warriors, it was their first straight-set victory in CCC play since 2013.
"It was a great feeling to get another conference win under our belt!" said head coach Kim McLain. "We can't be satisfied with where we are at and must continue to get better! Every win is a team effort and is the result of the way the girls push each other in practice daily!"
In a back and forth first set that contained 13 tied scores, neither team seemed to be able to find a way to put the other away. The deadlock was ultimately broken by sophomore outside-hitter Amber Parker (Albany, Ore.), who smashed a kill to put the Warriors ahead 18-17. That lead would hold, as Corban would then coast to a 25-19 set victory.
The second stanza followed a similar pattern to the first one, with the teams ending a play tied 10 times. Northwest Christian (7-5, 0-5 CCC), took an 11-10 lead on a kill by senior middle-blocker Chandler Gabrio. Unfortunately for the Beacons, however, that would be the last lead they would possess for the remainder of the game, as the Warriors hit for an incredible .500 attack-percentage as a team en route to a 25-19 set victory.
The third game was a similar story, with Northwest Christian remaining within striking distance for the majority of the set. The Warriors took the lead for good at 9-8 on another kill by Parker, who finished with 20 on the day. The Beacons pulled themselves within two points with a kill by senior Kayla Ping making the score 20-18, but could not overcome the deficit, as Corban finished out the set by a 25-19 margin, the third-straight identical set score.
The Warriors were led by Parker with 20 kills and a .366 attack-percentage, and freshman outside-hitter Victoria Schroeder (Corvallis, Ore.), who tallied 14 kills and a career-best attack percentage of .500. As a team, Corban hit for a season-high .385 on the day.
Sophomore libero Haley Wells (Albany, Ore.) led the Warriors with 11 digs, and freshman setter Madison McLain (Albany, Ore.) compiled 41 assists. In addition, junior middle-blocker Hannah Olson (Coos Bay, Ore.) recorded three solo blocks.
For the Beacons, Gabrio netted 10 kills and a .412 attack-percentage, while junior middle-blocker Cassidy Winters amassed nine of her own en route to a .438 attack-percentage. Freshman setter Laurie Salness led Northwest Christian with 22 assists, and sophomore libero Haley Damian notched 11 digs.
Corban (4-7, 2-3 CCC) heads out on the road to face off against NCAA DI opponent, Eastern Washington University, in an exhibition match on Thursday, September 17th. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.