Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Taking on the NAIA's ninth-ranked team and the pre-season Cascade Collegiate Conference favorites Saturday evening here at Lytle Gym, the Multnomah University Lions held their own early but eventually succumbed to the Corban University Warriors in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-14). 
 
After trailing by as much as five in the first set, the Lions battled back to earn a tie at 13-13 on a Miranda Halverson kill.  The game was nip-and-tuck thereafter, Multnomah even building a 19-17 lead on a Halverson service ace.  Corban regained the lead with four straight points before the Lions knotted it for the last time at 22-22, but kills by Marandah Boerder and Amber Parker around a Lions' attack error gave the visitors the opening set.
 
The second set was tight through the first half, neither team taking more than a three-point lead through the first 24 points.  Corban finally opened up some breathing room with three straight winners for a 16-11 lead, and the Lions got no closer than four the rest of the way.  A combination block by Amber Parker and Boeder secured the second set for the Warriors.
 
In the final stanza, Corban scored eight out of nine points to move from a slim 11-10 lead to a more comfortable 19-11 margin and rolled to victory with a blistering .577 hitting percentage in the set (18-3-26).  For the match, the Warriors hit a red-hot .424 (52-10-99) to .186 (30-12-97) for the Lions.
 
Patty Batoon led the Lions with nine kills while Halverson added eight and Maile Kam seven.  Marissa Rhodes had 17 assists and Kayla Keane 11, while Sabrina DeJesus-Bair collected 11 digs and Kam was in on three blocks.
 
Four players reached double figures in kills for Corban: Alaina Gentili with 13, Adriana Aguayo 12, Boeder 11, and Parker 10.  Madison McLain had 32 assists and Haley Wells made 15 digs.
 
Quoting Coach Jenna Bouey: "Corban was impressive tonight, as always! They are just really good at being consistent and closing out the close games. We struggled a bit with our defense at times tonight, but I thought the team cleaned up their serving game, and did a great job at the net blocking. Batoon and Kam both had stellar nights tonight at the net, and I thought Madison Schuh came in and did well for us in the third set." 
 
Next: Multnomah steps out of conference play for a match at Willamette University Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. … Corban hosts Northwest University (Wash.) Friday in a 7:30 p.m. CCC match.