SALEM, Ore. - The Hampton Inn Classic, co-hosted by Bushnell University and Corban University moved north to the Warriors campus on Saturday and the change of scenery proved beneficial to the Beacons who swept a pair of matches from Carroll College and Our Lady of the Lakes University.
 
"The team made this a really easy coaching day for us," said Head Coach Jason Corwin, who picked up his 199th career coaching win. "We got up to our standard of play and finished through every set."
 
(RV) Bushnell 3, (RV) Carroll (Mont.) 0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-20
 
The Beacons posted 11 blocks and seven service aces, while hitting .221 as they took care of Carroll College (5-3), a team currently receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll.
 
Junior Amyah Semau led Bushnell with a double-double, hitting .500 with 14 kills and 13 digs. Semau said, "We had an amazing day of volleyball and I am extremely proud of this team. I think this fuels us for our first conference games this week."
 
Senior Hailey Heider also earned 14 kills, along with eight digs and four blocks while senior Leah Agost posted ten kills and four blocks. Emma Fa'alogo added a double-double as well with 21 assists and 11 digs and Carly Hanna led all players with six blocks.
 
Carroll was led by Elizabeth Heuiser and McKaila Balcom, posting seven kills apiece while Lauren Heueser added six kills and five blocks.
 
(RV) Bushnell 3, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-21)
 
The final non-conference game for the season was a big one for the Beacons and came with a big milestone as senior setter Katie Belitz crossed the 1000-assist plateau for her career, collecting 16. Coach Corwin said, "We are really happy for Katie. She is a leader, she works hard, and gives everything she has. We are blessed and fortunate she is our setter!"
 
Belitz added, "Today was so fun and I am really proud of how we bounced back from the loss last night. We came out with great energy and played true to who we are. We stayed aggressive from start to finish and we were able to hold off two good teams."
 
Heider once again led the Bushnell offense with 13 kills while Agost added 11, hitting .421. As a team, the Beacons hit .300 and for the first time this season held an opponent to a negative attack with just 24 kills and 28 errors.
 
The defensive effort, which included a 9-3 margin in blocks, was led by Soliel Sands who tied the Beacon record for a three-set match, collecting nine blocks. She is the third player to collect the record, and first since Kalyssa Koontz in 2009. "The energy on the court is unreal," said Sands, "and it is the best feeling when everyone is full of joy and cheering for each other. I am excited for the rest of the season."
 
The Beacons also posted a 33-23 edge in digs, led by junior Libero Kailey Shirley (pictured) who led all players with 18, adding a personal record five service aces. Shirley said, "We worked really hard this weekend and I can't wait for the start of conference."

UP NEXT: Bushnell (6-4), who have won three of their last four matches, will be looking to make a little more magic happen in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on Wednesday when they come back to open up the CCC schedule against No. 3 ranked Corban University (6-1) at 6:00 pm.