DANVILLE, Va. -- With a pair of sweeps on Saturday, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team extended its winning streak to 20 matches as the Captains stormed past Piedmont, 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-13) before taking down Averett, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-18) during a USA South Tri-Match at the E. Stuart James Grant Center.

Once again, Bailey Jensen led the Captains as the senior standout posted eight blocks and roped 27 kills while hitting at a .522 clip. Alyssa Kidd also dished out 80 assists during the two sweeps, while Jessie Kolden had 18 kills and a pair of aces.

With the two victories, CNU improves to 28-2, including 10-0 in conference action. The squad's 20-match winning streak is now tied for the second-longest in program history, trailing only a 24-match run during the 2010 campaign. Piedmont is now 17-10 on the season, while Averett is 21-8.

Facing Piedmont for the first time since 2006, CNU stormed out fast against its unfamiliar foe. Jensen and Chastity Lacy got things going early with three kills apiece on the way to a 12-3 lead. After the Lions momentarily snapped a seven-point run by the Captains, Christopher Newport went right back to work. Christie Fellows and Cory Harris both uncorked a pair of blasts during the middle of the set, which helped the squad grab a huge double-digit advantage at 20-10.

With significant breathing room, Jensen pumped a kill and ace on back-to-back rallies before rockets by Kolden and Fellows gave the team set-point at 24-12. Wasting little time, Kidd quickly capped off the frame after blistering an ace on the final rally to clinch a 25-12 win.

After rolling in the first set, CNU carried its momentum over into the second. Once again, Jensen got off on the right foot with an early block and blast before Kolden smacked a pair of kills as the team raced out to an 11-4 edge. Although Piedmont eventually whittled its deficit down to four at 12-8, the Captains responded with three straight winners as Harris and Jensen unloaded consecutive tracers before Fellows teamed with Jensen on a block to take a 15-8 lead.

Once again, the Lions clawed back into the set and chewed their deficit down to five in the middle of the frame. With the opposition showing some life, Kolden went to work. Piecing together a sensational effort at the end of the stanza, the sophomore standout crushed three straight kills leading to a Piedmont timeout at 20-11. The stoppage did little to affect the second-year star as she quickly pounded two more kills on the way to a 25-13 victory.

Following the same script that worked in the first two frames, the Captains vaulted out to another huge lead in the third. Brooke Moore dropped in an early ace before Abby McIntyre also lined a winner before adding two straight kills on the way to a 10-3 advantage. Looking to secure another double-digit lead, Kolden and Krista Hughes each tallied a pair of kills and teamed up on a vicious block to help the squad take a 16-6 edge in the set.

Although Piedmont won six of the next seven rallies, the Lions could never get back into the match. With their lead down to five, the Captains won four straight rallies behind a pair of kills by Jensen and another Moore ace. After having the streak snapped by a PC block, CNU closed out the match in style. Jensen added one last rocket before Christopher Newport capitalized on three straight Piedmont miscues to clinch the victory with a 25-13 win in the third.

Jensen finished the match with 14 kills on just 18 swings for a .722 hitting percentage. Kolden balanced out the attack with 12 kills, while Kidd dished out 38 assists and added eight digs. Moore also looked strong for the Captains, lining two aces while chipping in with a team-high 10 digs.

After a quick breather, CNU headed right back to work against Averett. In the early going, the two teams looked evenly matched and found themselves deadlocked at eight despite three blasts by Kolden. Attempting to pull away, the Captains snatched five of the next six rallies after Jensen collected two kills and a block, while Moore and McIntyre lined aces. Staring at a four-point deficit at 13-9, Averett called a timeout. The break appeared to work as the hosts swept the next three rallies to pull back within one.

With their lead in question, the Captains turned to Lacy, who unloaded back-to-back kills before teaming with Harris and Fellows on a pair of blocks to secure a six-point lead at 21-15. Holding a comfortable advantage, CNU traded blows with Averett before settling into the first-set win. Two kills by Jensen set up Kolden's clincher as the squad took the opening frame, 25-19.

After stumbling a bit late in the first set, the Cougars came out strong in the second. The hosts used a four-point run early in the frame to take a 7-5 lead over CNU. Unfazed by the surge, the Captains went back on the attack. Behind a pair of kills by both Lacy and Fellows, Christopher Newport went on an eight-point streak that gave the squad a 13-7 advantage. After AU broke the run, Fellows laced two more bullets before Jensen came through with a huge solo block on the way to an imposing 18-9 edge.

Although Averett orchestrated a modest response, Jensen added another kill before Harris and Lacy unloaded back-to-back blasts to give the team a 23-12 lead. Looking to end the set quickly, CNU took advantage of two Cougar missteps to seal the second stanza, 25-14.

Looking for their second straight sweep, the Captains turned to their upperclassmen in the third frame. Harris and Jensen kicked off the set in style as the two seniors blasted kills on the first six rallies before Averett called for a timeout. Although the hosts found a little rhythm in the middle of the set, Jensen eventually came back with a block and kill, while Fellows lined a pair of rockets on the way to a 13-6 advantage.

Leading by seven, Kidd teamed with Jensen and Lacy on two blocks before a pair of Averett errors gave CNU a double-digit lead at 21-11. With a firm grip on the frame, Lacy and Fellows added late kills, while Kolden ripped an ace on the way to set-point. Fittingly, after an excellent showing along the net all day, Jensen and Fellows teamed up to ice the match with one last block, which clinched the final frame, 25-18.

Jensen led the Captains with 13 kills and six blocks against the Cougars, while Lacy had nine blasts and assisted on three stops. Kidd continued her strong efforts with 42 assists, while Hogge had a team-high 18 digs. Moore also added 10 digs and a pair of aces.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the squad caps off its USA South slate with a bout at N.C. Wesleyan.

---CNU---