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MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Behind a sensational effort by Cory Harris, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team added the perfect punctuation mark to its USA South run as the Captains picked up their sixth straight conference championship after the squad took down Averett, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-20) in the semifinals before upending Maryville, 3-1 (31-33, 25-16, 25-18, 25-14), in the championship match at Stone Hall on Saturday evening.

Harris was simply phenomenal throughout the tournament, tying for the team-lead with 34 kills during the three matches, including a team-high 18 in the title bout. For her efforts, she was honored as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

In addition to Harris' contributions, Chastity Lacy also dominated on both sides of the ball, collecting 34 kills and 13 blocks during the playoffs. Alyssa Kidd also dished out 121 assists, while Abby Hogge posted 45 digs during the three contests. Fittingly, all three standouts earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.

With the victory, the Captains move to 36-2 on the season and extend their program-record winning streak to 28. The championship, which marks the final one for CNU as a member of the USA South, is the program's sixth straight and 10th overall.

The title also ensures CNU of its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The official bracket for the national playoffs will be released on Monday at 11 a.m. The NCAA will stream a selection show on its website.

After securing a berth in the finals with a three-set sweep against Averett in the semifinals earlier on Saturday, Christopher Newport engaged in a grudge match with Maryville. Just as they had in their first bout against the Captains this year, the Scots came out firing in the first set.

Although CNU took a 16-11 lead in the frame, backed by four kills and a block by Lacy, Maryville stormed back. Using a huge mid-set surge, the Scots pulled within one at 16-15. Later, a pair of blasts by Jessie Kolden gave Christopher Newport a little breathing room, but the opposition rallied back again, pulling within one at 22-21.

With a battle on their hands, the Captains eventually earned set-point after kills by Harris and Christie Fellows. Despite the momentum shift, the Scots responded again, evening the frame at 25 following a pair of kills by Kara Strickland. From there, the squads engaged in a back-and-forth affair before Maryville finally seized the set, 33-31, following a block by Strickland.

Dropping the opening set against Maryville for the second time this season, CNU posted an emphatic answer. Once again, the squad found its rhythm early, pulling out to a 15-9 lead behind a pair of Lacy kills and aces from Hogge and Brooke Moore. Later, Kolden added another tracer before Krista Hughes punched a rocket to give the squad a comfortable 19-12 advantage heading into a Maryville timeout.

The stoppage did little to cool off the Captains as Harris came back with a huge kill before chipping in with another blast to push the team's lead to 22-15. From there, Lacy took over. In addition to a Scot miscue, the Captain junior unloaded a pair of late kills, including the clincher, which capped the frame, 25-16.

Tied at one-set apiece, Christopher Newport wasted no time breaking the deadlock. Kolden, Lacy, Harris, and Fellows all uncorked darts early in the third set on the way to a 9-6 lead. Following a Scot timeout, Harris fired three more blasts in the middle of the frame before Fellows added back-to-back kills on the way to an 18-13 advantage.

Although Maryville eventually pulled back within three, the squad could never overcome its deficit. Kolden ended the Scot's comeback hopes with consecutive kills late in the frame before a pair of MC errors capped the stanza, 25-18.

One frame away from another championship, the Captains saved their best set for last. Harris came out of the gates on fire, blasting two kills and an ace on the way to an 8-4 edge. After a Hughes rocket helped push the lead to 10-7, Kidd took over at the service line and pieced together a masterful performance.

Keeping the Scots on edge, the senior standout unloaded two straight aces before Harris and Fellows added kills during an important seven-point run that gave CNU a double-digit lead at 17-7. With all of the momentum on their side, the Captains kept up the attack and added an exclamation point with their efforts at the end of the frame.

Fellows fired two more kills in the waning moments of the match, while Hughes added a devastating rocket on the way to set-point at 24-13. Although Maryville held on for one more rally, a service error eventually capped the championship with a 25-14 win in the final frame.

Harris finished the championship match with 18 kills and 10 digs, while Lacy also fired 13 blasts and recorded three blocks. Fellows also stepped up with a huge showing in the title bout, roping 11 kills for the Captains. Kidd chipped in with 55 assists and three aces as well.

Earlier on Saturday, CNU squared off with fourth-seeded Averett in the semifinals. At the start of the first set, the two teams engaged in a seesaw affair and found themselves deadlocked at 11 despite three quick kills by Kolden. Facing a tough battle, the Captains finally got the edge in the middle of the frame.

During a huge 12-2 run, Lacy pounded three blasts and Harris added two kills on the way to a commanding 23-13 lead. Although Averett hung tough and swept the next two rallies, Lacy responded. The junior standout crushed a kill to earn set-point before blistering an ace to cap off the frame, 25-15.

After a bit of a slow start in the first, CNU jumped out quickly in the second. Once again, Lacy was at the forefront of the surge, collecting back-to-back blocks on the way to a 10-5 edge. Although Averett was able to whittle its deficit down to three, Christopher Newport was unimpressed. Harris and Fellows each fired kills before Lacy added two more on the way to a 20-15 lead.

Looking to close out the set quickly, Fellows unloaded two more kills, while Kolden chipped in with an ace to give the squad set-point at 24-18. Following a Cougar point, Kidd wrapped up the stanza with one of her patented dump shots into the heart of the AU defense to seal a 25-19 win.

Trailing by two sets, Averett came out strong in the third and secured a modest 10-9 lead. Refusing to back down, CNU capitalized on a pair of Cougar miscues and a Hogge ace to grab a 12-10 advantage. Although AU was able to win the next two rallies and knot the set at 12, the squad never took another lead in the frame.

Back on even ground, the Captains found their stride and pieced together a vital seven-point run behind a pair of Moore aces and two kills from Harris. Leading by seven at 19-12, CNU eased into the victory. Lacy added two late kills and Hughes ripped a bullet to give the team match-point at 24-20. One rally later, Harris capped off the sweep with a devastating blast that iced the frame, 25-20.

Lacy finished the contest with a match-high 12 kills and added four blocks for good measure. Harris and Kolden also blasted seven kills apiece, while Kidd dished out 32 assists. As she has all year, Moore dominated from the service line, launching three aces.

The NCAA Regionals will begin next week with first-round action kicking off on Friday, November 9.

---CNU---