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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Capping off the regular season in style, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team extended its winning streak to 25 matches and clinched the CNU Invitational Championship as the Captains rolled past Lynchburg, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-9) before outlasting No. 16 SUNY Cortland, 3-2 (30-28, 23-25, 14-25, 25-20, 15-12) on Saturday evening at the Freeman Center.

With the two victories, the Captains wrapped up the regular season with a spectacular 33-2 record. The squad's 25-match winning streak also broke the all-time program mark, eclipsing the 2010 squad's 24-game roll.

Abby Hogge was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after posting 69 digs during the two-day invitational. Christie Fellows and Chastity Lacy also earned spots on the All-Tournament team following spectacular efforts on Saturday. Lacy had eight blocks and tied Jessie Kolden for the team-lead with 20 kills. Fellows also roped 19 kills and added five blocks.

After posting a victory over Lynchburg in the first match of the day, the Captains squared off against SUNY Cortland in the nightcap for a much-anticipated top-25 showdown. The two squads did not disappoint, trading blows throughout the match.

In the first set, the Red Dragons set the tone early, pulling out to a 13-11 lead despite two kills apiece by Fellows, Krista Hughes, and Cory Harris. Later, CNU shot back, picking up a pair of kills by Lacy and Fellows during a mid-set surge that vaulted the hosts out to a 21-19 advantage.

Refusing to go down quietly, Cortland landed a few counterpunches and eventually earned set-point at 24-23. After staying alive following a Dragon miscue, the Captains took advantage of two kills and a block by Lacy in the waning moments of the frame to snatch the momentum. Later, Harris uncorked another blast before two more Cortland errors gave CNU a 30-28 win.

After stumbling late in the first frame, the Red Dragons got off to a good start in the second and pulled away with a 10-8 lead heading into a CNU timeout. Although a rocket by Fellows and a pair by Harris pulled the Captains within one on multiple occasions, the squad simply could not overcome its deficit. Three late kills by Lacy kept Christopher Newport close throughout the set, but eventually, Kim Givelechian closed out the stanza for Cortland with two kills to even the match at one with a 25-23 win in the second.

With the wind at their back, the Dragons continued to make a push in the third frame. Despite back-to-back kills by Kolden early in the set, Cortland took control at 11-8. Once again, the Captains kept it close in the middle of the frame, highlighted by a huge block from Hughes and Fellows, but the visitors would not be denied. After Natalie Zacpal stuffed a pair of Captain attacks, Cortland took advantage of a CNU miscue late in the frame to clinch a 25-14 victory.

Trailing two sets to one, Christopher Newport showed incredible resolve late in the match. Keeping their wits despite the two setbacks, the squad battled hard in the fourth frame. Fellows got the ball rolling with three early kills before Hogge unloaded an ace to give the hosts a modest 14-13 lead. Later, Lacy punched a pair of blasts to help the squad bump its edge to three at 19-16 heading into a Dragon timeout.

Although the stoppage momentarily paid dividends for Cortland, allowing the visitors to pull back within one at 19-18, the Captains never surrendered. Eventually, Kolden and Kidd took over late to seal the set. Kidd dumped in a kill and an ace, while Kolden blasted a pair of darts, including the clincher, to even the match with a 25-20 victory in the fourth.

Back on even ground, Christopher Newport refused to let its comeback go to waste and performed beautifully in the decisive fifth frame. The hosts captured the first three rallies by capitalizing on a black and blast from Hughes and a laser by Kolden. Later, Hughes teamed up with Fellows on another block before Harris uncorked back-to-back kills to give the Captains an 8-4 edge.

After that point, the two squads traded blows before CNU landed the final punch. Kills by Kidd and Hughes gave the Captains match-point at 14-11. Although the Dragons held on for one more rally, Christopher Newport eventually took advantage of a service error to cap off the match with a 15-12 victory in the final stanza.

Against Cortland, Lacy blasted a career-high 17 kills, while Fellows chipped in with 14. Hughes was just as sensational, unloading 12 kills to go along with three blocks. Kidd rounded out the offensive attack, contributing 56 assists, 13 digs, and seven kills on just 12 swings.

Assisting on the defensive end, Hogge posted a match-high 25 digs, while Harris added 16 and a pair of blocks. Lacy also rejected three attack attempts during the contest.

Although the second match of the day provided the thrills, CNU looked absolutely sensational in the opener against Lynchburg. During that contest, the Captains stormed out to a 9-0 lead in the first frame behind three early blasts by Harris. Although the Hornets eventually found a little rhythm in the middle of the set to pull back within four at 18-14, Christopher Newport would not be denied. Eventually, Kolden and Lacy unloaded late rockets before the hosts capitalized on a pair of Lynchburg miscues to win, 25-19.

After battling tough towards the latter part of the first set, the Hornets held their own in the second, fighting to a 9-9 draw. From there, Kolden lined a rope, Fellows posted a devastating block, and Kidd ripped an ace to give the team a three-point cushion. That advantage was all the team would need as Abby McIntyre fired back-to-back aces, while Hughes chipped in with two late lasers, including the clincher, to seal a 25-18 victory.

Leading by two sets, the Captains wasted no time in the final frame, vaulting out to a 16-6 lead behind three kills and a block by Hughes. Kolden also fell into a groove, lining three kills before Lacy notched a block and blast on back-to-back rallies during a seven-point run that pushed the score to 23-8. Although Lynchburg momentarily halted the run, Harris ripped one last kill before a Hornet error capped the sweep with a 25-9 win in the third.

Harris finished the match with a team-high eight kills to go along with nine digs. Kolden also fired seven kills and a pair of aces, while Kidd chipped in with 27 assists and nine digs. Lacy anchored the team's defensive efforts, collecting five blocks, including a pair of solo stops.

Christopher Newport will now prepare to defend its conference crown as the Captains head to Martinsville, Virginia for the USA South Championship beginning on Friday. CNU will enter the playoffs as the league's top seed and battle No. 8 Methodist at 1 p.m.

---CNU---