FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 8
th, 2026
Salem, Ore.| The Warner Pacific University women's volleyball team continued Cascade Collegiate Conference play Thursday evening, traveling to Salem to take on No. 5-ranked Corban University at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. The Knights battled closely with the nationally ranked Warriors in the opening set, but Corban eventually pulled away to secure the match in straight sets, 25-17, 25-8, 25-12.
Warner Pacific put together its strongest performance of the evening in the opening frame. After falling behind early, the Knights began to find their rhythm behind kills from
Mia Carman,
Allison Dorigo and
Josie Schultz. WPU fought all the way back to even the set at 13-13 following a kill from
Tayah-Anne Toa and remained within a point at 15-14 and 16-15. Corban, however, closed the set on a strong run to take the opener, 25-17.
The Knights finished the first set with nine kills, their highest total of the match, while hitting .091. Warner Pacific also found success at the net early, with
Naomi Johnson and Carman combining for a block as the Knights kept the pressure on the Warriors.
Corban carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to an early advantage. Warner Pacific received kills from Schultz,
Daisci Burrows,
Amor Rapoza, Johnson, Carman and Dorigo, but the Warriors' defensive pressure made it difficult for the Knights to establish a consistent offensive rhythm. Corban eventually took the second frame, 25-8, to move within one set of the victory.
Warner Pacific continued to battle in the third. Carman put down a kill for the Knights' first offensive point of the frame, while Burrows added another shortly afterward. Toa, Carman and Burrows helped WPU continue fighting down the stretch, but Corban's balanced attack proved too much as the Warriors closed out the match with a 25-12 victory.
Carman led Warner Pacific offensively with a team-high six kills while adding four digs and a block assist. Schultz and Dorigo each finished with three kills, while Johnson, Burrows and Toa contributed two apiece.
Burrows turned in a strong defensive performance for the Knights, recording a match-high 14 digs while also contributing seven assists. Rapoza led Warner Pacific with nine assists and added five digs, while
Maya Moreno finished with eight digs.
As a team, Warner Pacific finished with 19 kills, 19 assists and 34 digs. The Knights were strongest offensively in the opening set before Corban's defense limited WPU to 10 kills over the final two frames.
"I am proud of the girls for once again fighting hard against another great team," head coach Nerisa Laban said. "The schedule we have is one of the toughest in the country and even through the lows, the team continues to gel and keep their spirits high."
Corban finished the evening hitting .340 with 43 kills. Emma Bischoff and Greta Van Gemert led the Warriors with 10 kills apiece, while Racquel Gauna added seven kills without an attacking error. The Warriors also recorded 10 service aces and 43 digs in the victory.
The result moves Warner Pacific to 0-12 overall and 0-11 in conference play, while Corban improves to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in CCC action.
