CNU - Bridgewater Box Score
CNU - Eastern Box Score

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - With a pair of impressive victories, the top-ranked Christopher Newport University volleyball team kicked off its 2012 campaign in fine fashion as the Captains upended Bridgewater, 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-21), in their season opener before dropping #9 Eastern, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-14), during the first day of the Captains Classic at the Freeman Center on Friday.

Bailey Jensen and Jessie Kolden led the potent offensive attack, chipping in with 19 kills apiece during the two contests. Alyssa Kidd also was at the center of the offense, dishing out 68 assists while helping the squad hit .298 during the course of the day.

Defensively, Abby Hogge was the star, posting 29 digs while going a perfect 30-for-30 on service receptions. Chastity Lacy also chipped in with four blocks, while Jensen tallied three during the two contests.

In the first match of the day, the Captains broke out early and never looked back. Guided by Kidd, who chipped in with five assists, a block, and a beautifully placed kill, CNU jumped out to a 13-5 advantage against the Eagles before Bridgewater called a timeout. Although the break momentarily snapped Christopher Newport's momentum, the squad quickly found its rhythm again.

CNU capitalized on a well-balanced attack to close out the first set of the day. During the span of 12 rallies, five different Captains blasted kills, including a pair by Jensen. With a commanding lead at 19-11, the squad eased into the victory after grabbing the final six rallies of the frame, highlighted by an ace from Hogge and the clinching kill by Christie Fellows.

The second set started off as a back-and-forth affair as the two teams found themselves deadlocked at 8-8. Looking for some consistency, the Captains turned to Cory Harris, who quickly posted a block and blast on back-to-back rallies to give the squad a little breathing room.

Eventually, the team pulled out to a five-point edge at 16-11 before running away with the set. Harris and Jensen roped a pair of kills and Kidd teamed with Terran Bargeron on a devastating block that gave CNU an imposing 22-14 lead heading into Bridgewater's final timeout of the frame.

Looking to end it quickly, Bargeron came back with her second kill of the set and Harris drove home the final blast to clinch the 25-16 victory.

In the final frame, Harris came through again with another strong effort. The senior standout fired three quick kills and Brooke Moore lined her third ace of the contest during an early flurry that gave CNU a 15-9 advantage. Once again, with another imposing lead, the Captains finished off the set in style. Harris tallied two more kills and launched an ace in the waning moments of the contest before Fellows and Jensen teamed up to finish off the Eagles with a block to clinch the 25-21 victory.

Harris finished the first match with 12 kills and a .379 hitting percentage, while Jensen chipped in with eight winners, five digs, and a pair of blocks. Kidd also recorded a double-double, dishing out 31 assists while collecting 10 digs.

With a win already under their belt, the Captains set out to make an early season statement in the second game of their doubleheader. Squaring off against #9 Eastern, who advanced to the NCAA semifinals last year, CNU had the perfect opportunity to land a big blow against another national power.

In the early portion of the match, the two heavyweights entered into a seesaw battle, which saw the squads fight to seven ties until CNU pulled away a bit after a 12-12 deadlock. Two Eastern errors coupled with kills by Fellows and Kolden helped the team secure a 16-12 advantage. Later, another Kolden kill and a solo block by Jensen gave the Captains a 20-17 lead heading into an Eastern timeout.

During the break, the Eagles regrouped and came out on a roll. Capturing four of the next five rallies, Eastern knotted the set at 21. With a new fight on their hands, the Captains held tough. Jensen launched a kill and ace to help the hosts earn set point at 24-22. One rally later, Harris put the exclamation point on the first frame with a blistering blast.

After surviving a late scare by the Eagles, CNU went right to work in the second set. An ace by Hogge and early kills by Lacy, Fellows, and Kolden gave the squad a four-point edge. Later, Jensen and Harris helped extend the lead in the middle of the set as the duo combined for two kills, a block, and an ace to give the team an 18-10 advantage.

Closing in on a two-set lead, the Captains once again relied on their well-balanced lineup to capture the second frame. Lacy, Fellows, Kolden, and Jensen all chimed in with late kills before Hogge added the clinching ace to secure a 25-17 victory.

With their second sweep in sight, CNU had no interest in backing off. Once again, the hosts stormed out to an early 13-9 lead, highlighted by three kills each from Kolden and Bailey. The dynamic duo continued their surge in the middle of the set, combining for four more winners as the squad stretched its lead to 22-14.

Staring victory squarely in the face, the Captains closed out their day in style. Brooke Moore lined an ace, Harris crushed a kill, and Jensen fittingly capped it off with another blast to clinch a 25-14 victory and the squad's second sweep in as many matches.

Jensen was dominant in the nightcap, collecting 11 kills on just 18 swings for a sensational .611 hitting percentage. Kolden also pieced together a spectacular effort against Eastern, collecting a team-high 15 kills while hitting .394. Overall, the Captains hit .315 in the match, while Kidd helped pace the attack with 37 assists.

On the defensive end, Hogge began her senior season with a bang, collecting 19 digs and a pristine 1.000 reception percentage after going perfect on her 20 attempts.

The Captains will return to action tomorrow during the final day of their annual tournament. The squad will kick off the day at noon against UT-Tyler before wrapping up the Classic with a bout against Roger Williams at 4 p.m.

---CNU---