MESA, Ariz. – No. 3 Corban (Ore.) earned a 3-2 pool play victory over No. 6 New College of Florida on April 23 at the NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational, grinding out the decision behind a reverse sweep that ultimately outweighed two straight-set losses in the first wave.
New College seized the initial momentum. In Pair 2, Kayla Gentry and Jayden Ponsford put NCF on the board first with a composed 21-17, 21-18 win over Corban’s Allyson Reid and Gabi Engels. Moments later, the lead doubled when Camilla Vaerini and Soroya Nacero controlled Pair 4, defeating Erin Scott and Emily Blagg 21-14, 21-16 to push New College ahead 2-0 in the team score.
Corban’s response came in the second wave where the Warriors immediately turned the dual into a race to the finish. In Pair 1, Emma Bischoff and Emmi Marks delivered Corban’s first point in a tight three-set battle, beating Cassidy Casey and Olivia Fenstermaker 21-14, 21-23, 15-9. That win cut the deficit to 2-1 and set the stage for a dramatic closing stretch on the final three courts.
Pair 5 provided the swing point. Jordan Faircloth and Rebecca Wilber tied the score for Corban with another three-set result. They opened with a 21-16 first set over Mariana Saba and Malu Barreis, then withstood a pushback in a 24-22 second-set loss before closing confidently in the third, 15-8, to tie the score for the Warriors.
In the clincher, after dropping a marathon first set 24-22 to Alba Romanos Gracia and Jayleen Santiago, Corban’s Alexis Adebodun and Cammie Masanda steadied their side, taking the second 21-18 before pulling away late in the third for a 15-10 win. The comeback completed the reverse sweep for Corban.
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The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2026 NAIA Women’s Beach Volleyball All-America teams and Pair of the Year on Tuesday.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announces the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for spring sports. Each semester, the NAIA Scholar‑Athlete list celebrates student‑athletes who excel in both academic and athletic arenas. This honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the spring sports who have excelled academically, including baseball, softball, golf, lacrosse, track & field, […]