Corban Volleyball Season Ends against Defending National Champs in NAIA Final 16

11/30/2018 4:40:00 PM

Danny Day, Assistant Athletic Director - External Operations

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In just four seasons, Corban University head volleyball coach Kim McLain has created a winning tradition with the Warrior Volleyball program, earning a trip to the NAIA Final 16 for the third-straight year, while in 2018 playing with a very young team. The No. 22-ranked Warriors lost on Friday to the defending national champions, Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.), as the Blue Raiders ended Corban's season in straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-21).

"I am extremely proud of this group of girls," said Corban head coach Kim McLain. "They battled with each team they met, leaving it all out on the court against some great teams. It is such an honor to coach them and I look forward to the years to come."

Corban was the only team that played in an NAIA Opening Round match in 2018 to advance out of 'pool play' and into the elimination bracket, marking the third-straight year the Warriors had reached at least the NAIA Final 16. In 2017, the Warriors advanced to the NAIA National Quarterfinal, marking the furthest a Warrior volleyball team has ever advanced.

McLain now boasts an 89-43 overall record in her four years with the Navy and Gold, marking the best winning percentage (.674) in program history. With nine freshman, two sophomores, and three juniors on the team, all players on the roster are slated to return in 2019.

The Warriors (23-13) took leads in each set on Friday, but the Blue Raiders showed why they are the defending national champions, racking up eight blocks and 56 digs, playing great defense all match long to preserve, extend, and win points.

In addition, Lindsey Wilson (33-3) hit for a .257 hitting mark, compared to just a .091 hitting percentage for the Warriors. For Corban, Adriana Aguayo led the way with 10 kills in the defeat, while Demi Winters tallied eight. Jacquelyn Clark totaled seven kills in the match while hitting for a .278 clip, and Avari Ridgway added six kills in the loss.

Defensively, Kealani Ontai kept a number of rallies alive for the Warriors, notching 11 digs, while Lauren Condon chipped in 10 digs and Madison Pfaff added nine.

Cierra Leopoldino dished out a team-leading 15 assists in the defeat for the Warriors to help keep the offense flowing, while Jadyn Mullen recorded 14 assists.

As a team, Corban did total 12 block assists, with Regan Murray, Winters, and Clark all notching three apiece.

The Warriors finish the 2018 season as one of four teams from the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) to advance to at least the NAIA Final 16. Corban's 23 wins mark the third-consecutive season in which the squad earned at least 23 wins on the campaign.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson advances to the NAIA Quarterfinals and takes on Midland (Neb.) tonight at 6:15 PT, with the winner advancing to the national semifinal on Saturday.