The Corban University Warriors knocked-off the College of Idaho Yotes in thrilling fashion to claim the conference tournament title. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – In a match that was as good as advertised, the top two teams in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) squared-off on Saturday in the CCC Volleyball Tournament Championship, presented by U.S. Bank. The No. 1-seeded Corban University Warriors won a hard-fought battle against the No. 2-seeded College of Idaho Yotes to claim the conference tournament title in five sets (23-25, 25-9, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12).
“It is such a privilege to coach a team that has a relentless, ‘never give up’ attitude and fight,” said Corban head coach Kim McLain. “The Yotes are a very talented and well-coached team. Again, our defense and blocking were key to our success tonight.”
College of Idaho possessed the lead for most of the first stanza, and the Yotes withstood a late Warrior run to claim a 25-23 triumph in set one.
Corban responded quickly in the following frame, jumping out to an early 14-2 lead, due in part to a couple of outstanding individual efforts from Madison Milligan and Alaina Gentili. In the end, the Warriors would ride a .348 hitting percentage to win set two comfortably, 25-9.
Set three proved to be a back-and-forth battle, with both teams vying for the advantage. In the end, the Warriors would add to their lead with a 25-21 victory.
With their backs against the wall, the Yotes stormed back to force a fifth and deciding set via a 25-23 triumph in the fourth frame.
In the fifth and final stanza, the CCC’s two top heavyweights went point-for-point in pursuit of the tournament title. Down 10-12, the Warriors rattled off five-straight points to seal the set and earn the program’s first conference tournament title since 1997.
The victory caps off a historic year for the Warriors, in which the team became Conference Regular Season Champions for the first time in school history. After losing in last year’s Conference Tournament Championship in five sets, the Warriors reversed history with the dramatic comeback in this year’s tournament title match.
Corban has now won seven-straight matches overall, including four consecutive five-set victories, moving Corban to a perfect 12-0 at home on the season. With the perfect home record, it marks the first-time in program history that Corban has gone undefeated in all home matches.
“It is definitely an honor to win this tournament,” said McLain, “as all four teams in the CCC Tournament are extremely talented and deserve to be at nationals.”
WATCH MCLAIN’S POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
Gentili’s exceptional all-around performance helped spark the Warrior triumph, as she tallied 14 kills on a .417 hitting percentage, while also adding six block assists. Amber Parker led the team with 17 kills on the afternoon.
WATCH GENTILI’S POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
Milligan contributed a team-best 32 assists, to go alongside Cierra Leopoldino’s 17.
At the net, Marandah Boeder notched seven block assists as part of a Warrior defense that finished with a season-high 15.5 blocks.
For the Yotes, four players had at least 10 kills, with Ashley Pagan (15), Alaina Slater (11), Taylor Alexander (10), and Jackie Van Vliet (10) setting the pace. Marija Djonovic added 42 assists.
Defensively, Brenna Meehan totaled a team-best 20 digs, with Van Vliet rounding out her performance with seven block assists.
Both Corban (24-7) and College of Idaho (24-6) will now look ahead to the NAIA National Tournament, with the tournament field set to be announced on Monday, at 8 a.m. PST.