The University of Portland Pilots beach volleyball team will begin their 2026 season at the Corban Invitational in Salem, Oregon. The event will take place at the Corban Beach Volleyball Courts.
The Pilots are scheduled to play three matches during the invitational. They will face Corban on February 20 at 9 a.m., followed by Sacramento State later that day at 1 p.m. Their final match will be against Chaminade on February 21 at 3 p.m.
In previous meetings, Portland has a record of two wins and eleven losses against Corban, with their last match ending in a close 2-3 defeat. Against Sacramento State, the Pilots have one win and three losses, losing their most recent encounter 0-5. The team holds a single win over Chaminade, having won their last matchup 3-2.
Head coach Dylan Hamilton enters his third year leading the program. Kili Robins returns as assistant coach for her second season, while Madi Culp joins as a volunteer assistant coach. The team brings back six players from last year’s roster: Michela Strati, Valerie Bruk, Elizabeth Ortiz, Melissa Cormack, Leonie Freytag, and Hannah Debban. Four new athletes join this season: Greta Kesmodel, Tate Mercer, Sarah Incitti, Lillian Lansing, Jeryn Hildenbrand, Josie Povey, and Nyah Mitchell. Elin Larsson and Jeryn Hildenbrand return after playing on the indoor roster in 2025.
Last season, the Pilots finished with a record of five wins and seventeen losses.
Fans can purchase tickets for upcoming home events through PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For information about group or fan experience packages, inquiries can be directed to pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Supporters interested in contributing to student-athlete success may donate directly to the Pilot Athletic Fund via this link. Donations support nearly 300 student-athletes academically and athletically.
Additional news and updates about University of Portland athletics are available at PortlandPilots.com. Fans can also follow the teams on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
