SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Tested early for the first time this NAIA postseason, the No. 4 Corban University Women’s Volleyball team (31-4) still managed to find a way into their third-straight sweep of the NAIA National Tournament, as the Warriors flipped a first-set deficit into a three-set match victory over No. 11 Taylor University (31-7) with final set scores of 25-23, 25-21, and 25-16.
“We knew we needed to show up defensively tonight, and boy did the girls do that!” Warriors’ Head Coach Kim McLain shared following her team’s second sweep at the NAIA Final Site. “Taylor has an intense attacking style, never letting up in their fast-paced offense and credit to our girls for holding them at bay.”
“Hardnose serving and winning the competition at the net is ultimately what allowed us to find success in this match. I’m excited for the team to continue their amazing run into tomorrow’s quarterfinals!” McLain concluded.
The Warriors entered today’s contest with a three-set sweep of Bethel University Wednesday afternoon on the same court, after punching their ticket to the Final Site via a three-set sweep of Benedictine-Mesa in the Opening Round. Despite recording yet another, the Trojans did not go down without a fight.
Suffering their own three-set sweep yesterday to the same Bethel team the Warriors swept, Taylor came out with an intensity and desire to force a tie-breaker scenario that knocked Corban on their backs to open the contest.
The Warriors forced a 6-all tie early in the first set, but three-straight points from the Trojans put Corban in a hole that they would not dig themselves out of for a majority of the opening frame. The Navy and Gold would come as close as a one-point deficit but could not jump the hurdle to force a tie until a kill from freshman opposite hitter Makayla Roginski sent the set into a 22-22 gridlock.
Corban surrendered the next point, but took the next three points to complete the comeback in the first set, swinging the momentum of the entire stadium in their favor to solidify a set lead to open the contest.
The second set was a bare-knuckle fist fight back-and-forth by the Warriors and Trojans, as neither team could gain much distance from one another on the scoreboard. With everything knotted up at 14 points, Corban scored off three-straight Taylor miscues to take the lead, which would prove influential down the stretch.
The Trojans would battle back to find themselves within two-points, but a kill from sophomore outside hitter Rylee Troutman and an assisted block from sophomore middle blocker Allyson Reid and senior outside hitter Avari Ridgway quickly gave the Warriors the second set victory, and thus a 2-0 set lead.
Try as Taylor might, the third set spelled the eventual sweep for the Trojans, as the ball just could not roll their way. Credit is due to the Corban defense, as the Warriors put up their second highest block total in a single game this season, totaling 10 in the game and four just in the third set alone. However, the Warriors felt their fair share of luck at the net, as almost every 50/50 ball rolled exactly in Corban’s favor.
Kills from Roginski and Ridgway sent this contest to a final score, as Taylor just could not find the same intensity they had to begin the match. The Trojans end their 2022 season with both a Regular Season and Tournament Championship but will proceed no further in this NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Corban was led offensively by Troutman who finished with a game-high 15 kills, adding five digs in the backcourt. Roginski followed in part with nine kill and just two errors for a .438 attacking percentage, followed by Ridgway who had five kills.
Most of the success Ridgway found today was developed at the service line and in the backcourt, as she tallied two service aces and 12 digs, both of which tie for the game-high in each category. Senior setter Jadyn Mullen and freshman setter Abby Guindy continue to deal out in style to the Warrior offense, as Mullen was credited with 21 dimes compared to Guindy’s 12 assists.
As previously stated, the Warriors dominated one of the nation’s best attacking and defending teams in the country at the net, as they shot back 10 blocks compared to just four for the Trojans, while also holding the NAIA attacking percentage leader, opposite hitter Ryan Czerniak, to just a .167 kill percentage for a student-athlete that hit nearly .400 on the season prior to this contest.
The Trojan leader in kills was middle hitter Jaylynn Dunsmore, who tacked on nine kills for the most consistent night by any Taylor player. Grace Ieremia, another middle hitter for the Trojans, added seven kills and only two errors on the evening. Ieremia also added a team-high five block assists at the net.
The backcourt was held down by libero McKaylah Flagle and defensive specialist Nikki Parrett, who held a majority of Taylor’s digs with 12 and 11, respectively. The all-around setter Kacy Bragg held a game-high 29 assists, with the lone service ace for the Trojans.
The No. 4 Warriors will now advance to the knockout stage of the NAIA National Tournament, where they will face No. 13 Park University (29-5) tomorrow at 2pm CST, 12pm PST in the Quarterfinals, looking to advance to the Semifinal round on Monday.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email
Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android