SALEM, Ore. – The No. 5-ranked Corban University Women's Volleyball team enjoyed a memorable opening day of the 2026 Hampton Inn Classic on Thursday, earning straight-set victories over Pacific Union College and Simpson University inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. While the Warriors improved to 6-1 overall with the pair of wins, the day belonged to senior outside hitter Emma Bischoff, who recorded the 1,000th kill of her illustrious Warrior career during Corban's tournament-opening victory over Pacific Union.
"I'm so proud of Emma for reaching an incredible milestone of 1,000 career kills!" exclaimed Bischoff's head coach Kim McLain. "She has put in so much hard work, and it's exciting to see that work pay off. Emma continues to make a tremendous impact on our program, both on and off the court. I'm honored to coach her and look forward to what she still has in store!"
The milestone highlighted another dominant day for the Navy and Gold, who hit .304 collectively across the two matches while allowing their opponents to combine for a .085 attacking percentage.
Match 1: No. 5 Corban 3, Pacific Union 0
Set Scores: 25-18, 25-19, 25-10
The opening match of the Hampton Inn Classic for the Warriors carried added significance as Bischoff entered the afternoon on the doorstep of becoming the newest member of Corban's 1,000-kill club. The senior reached the milestone in the third-set victory and helped spark a strong overall performance as the Warriors (6-1) completed a convincing three-set sweep.
Corban established control almost immediately, using service pressure and efficient offense to gain a dominant advantage. A pair of service aces from sophomore setter Kawena Crowell helped fuel a decisive run midway through the frame, while kills from Bischoff, freshman opposite hitter Greta Van Gemert, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Jenna Konzelman, and junior opposite hitter Lauryn Copeland kept the Pioneers (0-2) on their heels. The Warriors led by as many as nine points before securing the 25-18 opening-set victory.
Head coach Kim McLain utilized nearly her entire roster in the second stanza, and the Warriors' depth responded. Pacific Union jumped out to an early 9-4 advantage before Corban's second unit answered emphatically. Freshman outside hitter Racquel Gauna, redshirt freshman middle blocker Karissa Riskey, freshman opposite hitter Ellie Bartel, freshman middle blocker Eliana Klos, and redshirt sophomore setter Braeleigh MacAskill all either started or checked in during the second set and produced key moments as the Warriors ripped off a lengthy momentum-shifting run in the middle of the period to erase the deficit and eventually pull away for a 25-19 victory.
With the starters back on the floor in the third set, Corban delivered its most efficient volleyball of the afternoon. The Warriors hit an impressive .457 in the final frame, racing out to an early 6-2 lead before steadily extending the margin throughout the set. Van Gemert, Copeland, Bischoff, and Konzelman paced the attack as Corban closed the match on a dominant note with a 25-10 third-set triumph.
Van Gemert led the Warrior offense with 10 kills while adding nine digs and two service aces to fall one dig shy of a double-double effort. Copeland turned in another efficient performance at the net, recording eight kills on a team-best .545 attacking percentage among Corban's primary attackers. Bischoff added seven kills and six digs in the milestone victory. Gauna provided a spark off the bench with six kills on nine swings for a stellar .556 hitting percentage. The Warriors' two-setter system once again operated efficiently, as senior setter Nadeiah Howard distributed 22 assists with two service aces and Crowell added 18 assists and two aces of her own. Defensively, junior libero Dani Street anchored the back row with a match-high 13 digs.
Notable Statistics
- Corban hit .274 as a team compared to Pacific Union's .064.
- The Warriors recorded 51 kills while holding the Pioneers to just 16.
- Corban posted eight service aces and forced eight Pacific Union reception errors.
- Bischoff became the latest Warrior to surpass 1,000 career kills, a milestone accomplished by less than 15 student-athletes in program history.
Match 2: No. 5 Corban 3, Simpson 0
Set Scores: 25-17, 25-18, 25-13
Any concern of a letdown following the emotional first match quickly disappeared, as Corban completed another sweep during the evening session. The Warriors controlled play from start to finish, using balanced offense and dominant net play to dispatch the Red Hawks (2-10).
After Simpson grabbed an early 5-2 advantage, Corban immediately responded with kills from Van Gemert, Copeland, junior middle blocker Gracee Robertson, and senior outside hitter Kendra Bittle helping to erase the deficit, while a lengthy service run by Bischoff turned a competitive set into a comfortable advantage. During that stretch, Bischoff delivered three service aces as the Warriors transformed a 13-13 standoff into a commanding lead en route to a 25-17 opening-set win.
The second set featured several back-and-forth exchanges early before Corban slowly created separation. Van Gemert, Bittle, Bischoff, and Copeland all delivered timely kills, while the Warriors' blocking unit repeatedly slowed Simpson's offensive rhythm. Corban used a timely 8-3 run late in the frame to build a double-digit lead before finishing off a 25-18 victory and moving within one set of the sweep.
The Navy and Gold left little doubt in the third set, as a dominant run fueled by Van Gemert, Robertson, Bittle, and Copeland quickly turned a close contest into a runaway. Corban's defense held Simpson to a negative attacking percentage in the frame (-.030), while the Warriors stretched the lead to as many as 12 points before securing the match with a 25-13 final-set victory.
Bittle paced the Warrior attack with 11 kills while posting an exceptional .611 attacking percentage thanks to zero errors and adding in two service aces. Van Gemert joined her in double figures with 10 kills and contributed eight digs, while Copeland chipped in seven kills and Bischoff added seven kills, three service aces, and six digs. Crowell dished out 24 assists and Howard contributed another 14 dimes, helping the Warriors hit .337 as a team. Street once again secured the back row with 12 digs, while Robertson made a major impact at the net with five kills and six block assists in the sweep.
Notable Statistics
- Corban hit .337 as a team while limiting Simpson to .108.
- The Warriors compiled 44 kills and just 11 attacking errors.
- Corban dominated the net with 22 block assists.
- Four Warriors finished with at least seven kills.
- Bittle's .611 hitting percentage marked the highest efficiency of any Corban attacker on the evening.
"I'm proud of our team for getting two more wins under our belt," McLain explained. "Their fight and determination continue to stand out. This group keeps learning, growing, and finding ways to get better every time we step on the court. We're excited to carry that momentum into tomorrow and compete again!"
Corban will continue Hampton Inn Classic action on Friday, August 28, when the Warriors host RV Columbia International University (2-3) at 1 pm and RV Taylor University (7-2) at 6 p.m. PDT in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
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