PORTLAND, Ore. – After picking up the first two pairs in their final regular season matchup of the 2025 season, the No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team avoided a reverse sweep on the road against NCAA DI University of Portland, taking the fifth and final pair in a three-set thrilling comeback to hand the Pilots a Senior Day loss and pick up a tenth-straight win against UP.
"This took a team effort today to get passed UP while resting some players at key positions," explained Warriors' head coach Dan Stephens. "Portland continues to improve, and it was good that we were able to get the win. We will need the team to continue playing for each other at nationals next week."
All three of the pairs that the Warriors (21-1) took this afternoon in Portland came down to a winner-take-all third set, where they emerged victorious in each to secure their first-ever road win against the Pilots (4-15) on their newly finished beach courts. With Coach Stephens resting two of his usual starters ahead of next week's national championships, the top Corban pairing was debuted by a brand-new duo for this season while every other pair played up a flight from their usual ranks.
The reigning CCC Pair of the Year, senior Emmi Marks and junior Jessica McMillian, won their own comeback bid in the second-overall pairing for Corban, dropping the first set in extra points to Portland's Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson 23-21 before snagging 21-14 and 15-10 set scores to take the pair.
Similarly in the fours, redshirt sophomore Erin Scott and freshman Rebecca Wilber took the opening set 21-18, but a 22-20 extra-point second set win by Pilots' Valerie Bruk and Taylor Helle forced yet another third set. Coming down to a "must win by two" scenario, Scott and Wilber took their 14-13 advantage and scored the pair-winning point to provide the Navy and Gold with a 2-0 pair lead.
Portland's top pairing took the ones in straight sets as sophomores Emma Bischoff and Cammie Masanda took to the sand for the first time in 2025 together and were unable to overcome Emily Wood and Annika Stammberger's season-long partnership on a Friday afternoon non-conference matchup. Likewise, junior Alexis Adebodun and freshman Gabi Engels moved up to the third-overall pairing and after falling in a marathon 27-25 first set, dropped the second 21-15 to put the Pilots in a reverse sweep scenario for their senior day dual.
With their first win over Corban since 2022 hanging in the balance of the fives, Portland's Michela Strati and Hannah Debban jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with another extra-point 23-21 first set. However, redshirt sophomore Payton Bazant and redshirt freshman Kaile'a Ontai dug deep along the University of Portland beach outskirts, taking 21-17 and a dominant 15-8 set scores to storm back and earn the Warriors' their 21st win of the year.
#2 Corban 3, Portland 2
1. Emily Wood and Annika Stammberger (POR) def. Emma Bischoff and Cammie Masanda (CRB) 21-11, 21-16
2. Emmi Marks and Jessica McMillian (CRB) def. Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson (POR) 21-23, 21-14, 15-10
3. Elizabeth Ortiz and Elena Bullemer (POR) def. Alexis Adebodun and Gabi Engels (CRB) 27-25, 21-15
4. Rebecca Wilber and Erin Scott (CRB) def. Valerie Bruk and Taylor Helle (POR) 21-18, 20-22, 15-13
5. Kaile'a Ontai and Payton Bazant (CRB) def. Michela Strati and Hannah Debban (POR) 21-23, 21-17, 15-8
Next Thursday, the Warriors will open the 2025 NAIA National Invitational with a pair of pool play duals against the Sun Conference representatives in Greeneville, Tennessee in No. 6-ranked University of Mobile (24-5) and Webber International University (11-5) at 10am & 2pm ET/7am & 11am PT.
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