Box Score

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Behind a well-balanced attack, which saw four players rope at least nine kills, the top-seeded Christopher Newport volleyball team rolled past Methodist, 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-10) during the first round of the USA South Tournament on Friday afternoon at Stone Hall.

Opening their final postseason run as a member of the USA South, the fifth-ranked Captains hit a sizzling .424 during the match to overwhelm the Monarchs. During the contest, Jessie Kolden led the way with 11 kills, while Cory Harris, Chastity Lacy, and Christie Fellows all added nine apiece. In addition to her work on the offensive end, Lacy also posted six blocks, including a pair of solo stops.

With the victory, CNU improves to 34-2 and extends its program-best winning streak to 26. The loss drops Methodist to 16-12 on the season.

In the opening frame on Friday, CNU burst out of the gate as Kolden unloaded a pair of kills, while Alyssa Kidd pieced together an outstanding effort in every facet of the game. During the team's early surge, the Captain setter collected two kills, a block, an ace, and five assists on the way to a huge 16-8 advantage following a Methodist timeout.

Although the Monarchs won the next two rallies to cut their deficit down to six, Lacy and Kolden pieced together an emphatic answer. Lacy roped two kills and an ace, while Kolden fired three darts during the span of four rallies to push CNU's lead to 23-12. After Kidd and Krista Hughes joined forces on a block, Fellows added the punctuation mark with a rocket that capped a 25-12 victory.

Following the same script that worked in the first frame, the Captains hurdled out to another huge lead in the second. After Lacy set the tone early with a huge block, Kolden and Fellows each added a pair of kills on the way to a 13-5 edge. Keeping the pressure on, Harris came back with two more lasers on the way to a double-digit advantage at 19-9.

After Methodist's final timeout of the frame, CNU eased into the victory. Lacy and Hughes both punched kills to hand the squad set-point at 24-14. Wasting little time, Fellows came back to cap her second set of the match with another bullet that sealed a 25-14 win.

Leading by two sets, the Captains looked just as sharp in the third. Lacy and Kidd teamed up on a block before the two All-Conference selections laced kills on the way to an 11-6 lead. With a modest advantage, the squad found its rhythm in the middle of the set. CNU orchestrated a huge six-point run, highlighted by a pair of kills by Fellows and a blistering ace by Abby Hogge, to take an 18-8 lead.

Back up by double-digits, Christopher Newport cruised to the three-set sweep. In the waning moments of the frame, Lacy posted a block and blast on back-to-back rallies before teaming with Rachel Conway on another stop to give the team match-point at 24-10. Fittingly, Kolden finished off the contest with another blast that sealed a 25-10 victory in the third.

Kidd capped the match with 34 assists, two aces, and three blocks, while Hogge had 16 digs on the defensive end. Overall, the squad posted seven blocks and held Methodist to a .090 hitting percentage during the contest.

With the victory, Christopher Newport now advances to the semifinals of the conference tournament, which will take place on Saturday afternoon. CNU will take on the winner of the Averett – Piedmont battle tomorrow at noon.

---CNU---