Box Score
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Showing a steely determination and never-say-die attitude, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team survived a grueling five-set battle against Randolph-Macon as the Captains advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals after trumping the Yellow Jackets, 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12), at the Freeman Center on Saturday evening.

With the victory, CNU extended its program-record winning streak to 30 straight contests and earned a berth in the program's fourth consecutive Regional Final match. The Captains (38-2) will square off with No. 4 Emory on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the opportunity to play in the NCAA Championships next weekend.

Against Randolph-Macon (24-7), Jessie Kolden led Christopher Newport with 16 kills, while Bailey Jensen had 14 to go along with five blocks. Christie Fellows also came up big with 11 blasts, including three huge winners at the tail end of the fifth set. Abby Hogge was outstanding as usual in the back row, posting 32 digs for the Captains.

After Randolph-Macon battled back and knotted the match at two sets apiece, the fifth frame was a gut-wrenching thriller. Looking evenly matched, the two squads battled to a 4-4 draw, highlighted by early kills from Fellows, Jensen, and Cory Harris. Later, a kill by Kolden broke the deadlock before an ace by Jensen helped lift the hosts to a modest 8-6 advantage.

Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets responded with a four-point roll on the way to their own lead at 10-8. With the season on the line, Kolden pulled out two huge aces, while Fellows added a dart to help CNU retake the lead at 12-10. Although Randolph-Macon pulled back within one, Fellows remained hot. The senior unloaded two more bullets to give the team match-point before a Macon miscue sealed the contest with a 15-12 victory in the fateful fifth set.

Although the game ended well, the beginning did not go quite as scripted. In the first set, Harris roped three early kills, but Randolph-Macon secured a 7-6 advantage. Even though CNU was able to momentarily overcome its deficit in the middle of the set, the Yellow Jackets kept fighting. Eventually, the visitors orchestrated a crucial seven-point run late in the stanza which helped the team secure a 25-19 win.

Unfazed by the setback, Christopher Newport came out strong in the second. Kolden took the reins, firing four quick kills on the way to a comfy 9-2 edge. Later, Fellows added a pair of bullets before Jensen came through with a block and blast to put the team up, 15-9.

Following a devastating solo block by Chastity Lacy, the All-Region performer also added a kill before the hosts took advantage of a string of Macon errors to earn set-point at 24-18. After a serve by Jensen threw the Yellow Jacket defense off balance, Alyssa Kidd hit Kolden with a perfect pass before the sophomore sensation drilled a one-timer to seal a 25-18 victory.

Back on even ground, the Captains stormed out quickly again in the third set. Jensen collected two kills and a block on three consecutive rallies before Brooke Moore ripped an ace to give the team a 5-0 advantage. Keeping the pressure on, Kolden unloaded two straight darts before Jensen and Kidd teamed up on another block for a 10-3 lead.

Bruised by the early surge, Randolph-Macon answered with a five-point run before another Yellow Jacket roll later in the set actually knotted the frame at 18. Refusing to let their lead completely slip away, the Captains turned to Harris and Jensen, who combined for three kills and a block on the way to set-point at 24-21. Fittingly, after disrupting the Randolph-Macon offense along the net all set long, Lacy and Kidd joined forces on another block to seal the stanza, 25-21.

Looking to end the match in four, CNU got off to a good start in the next set as Kolden collected three kills, while Fellows and Harris each chipped in with a pair on the way to a 14-9 lead. Unfortunately, following a Yellow Jacket timeout, Randolph-Macon regrouped. Going on a 13-5 run following the break, the visitors pulled ahead, 22-19. Despite three kills and a block by Jensen at the end of the stanza, the Yellow Jackets eventually prevailed, 25-23, to send the match to the decisive set.

Luckily for the Captains, the squad eventually regained its footing in the fifth frame to pull out the nail-biter.

During the match, Kidd chimed in with 48 assists, 14 digs, and four blocks for the Captains, while Moore had 18 digs and an ace. Harris also fell just one kill shy of a double-double, tallying 11 digs and nine blasts.

In the earlier semifinal on Saturday, Emory survived its own test as the Eagles got past No. 23 Juniata, 3-1.

---CNU---