Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The fourth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team split a pair of matches on the first day of the Trinity National Invitational as the Captains took down the host Tigers, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-20), before falling to #5 Emory, 3-2 (10-25, 26-24, 25-17, 22-25, 15-12) on Friday at the Webster Gymnasium.

The Captains were led by sophomore Jessie Kolden, who collected 33 kills in the two matches, highlighted by a career-high 21 in the nightcap. Bailey Jensen also chipped in with 16 blocks during the day, including 12 against Emory. Alyssa Kidd also had 64 assists to help pace the CNU attack.

In the opening set against Trinity, the two teams traded rallies and looked evenly matched. Although CNU pulled out to a 10-7 lead, the hosts rolled off six straight winners to take a 12-10 advantage. Following blasts by Christie Fellows and Cory Harris, the squads found themselves deadlocked again at 12-12. Once again, the Tigers responded, winning four of the next five rallies to secure a three-point edge at 16-13.

Unable to gain traction in the early part of the set, the Captains found their rhythm in the latter half. Staring at a deficit, CNU pieced together an incredible response, winning 10 straight rallies. Kolden was at the forefront of the surge, launching three kills including a tremendous blow that sent a Tiger tumbling to the court before a Trinity timeout.

Eventually, that late run helped CNU secure a 23-16 lead before the Tigers finally broke the string. Despite the momentary lapse, Chastity Lacy put an end to the frame as she uncorked a laser to secure a 25-18 win.

In the second set, Christopher Newport pulled out early after a 6-6 tie. After the deadlock, Lacy posted a block and two kills, while Kidd added a stuff and four assists to help the squad roll out to a 14-11 advantage. With some breathing room, Jensen uncorked a shot and sent back a Trinity attack during a four-point run that gave the team a commanding lead at 19-11.

With the end of the stanza in sight, Kolden fired two kills and an ace, while Fellows added another winner to give the team set point. Harris quickly put an end to the frame after hammering home a pass from Kidd to seal the 25-15 win.

Leading by two sets, CNU stormed out to an amazing lead in the third. After locking up the second frame, Harris kicked off the final set with three kills and a block to lead an incredible surge by the Captains. Eventually, an ace, block, and kill by Jensen helped give the squad a 15-6 advantage.

Although Trinity refused to go down quietly, the Tigers could never claw their way back into the set. In the waning moments of the contest, Kolden launched three winners to earn match point, and although the hosts won three straight rallies to keep the game alive, Fellows eventually drove home the final dagger to secure the sweep with a 25-20 win in the third set.

Overall, the Captains hit at a .379 clip during the match. Kolden led the way after posting 12 kills without a single error, while Harris added seven blasts as well. On the defensive end, Abby Hogge had 13 digs, while Brooke Moore chipped in with 11.

After getting off on the right foot with a strong showing in the first match of the day, the Captains looked primed to continue their run after a dominant effort in the opening set of the nightcap.

Nearly mirroring their quick start against the Tigers, CNU jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the first frame against Emory. Kolden led the way with four kills, a block, and an ace. Fellows also got off to a good start, launching three kills on the way to the double-digit advantage.

Although Emory pieced together a short run in the middle of the frame, Christopher Newport clamped down. Moore fired back-to-back aces, while Jensen added three blocks and a kill to give the squad set point. Fittingly, Kolden capped off what she started with another crushing blow to seal the 25-10 victory.

Reeling from the setback, Emory responded in the second set. Although Jensen added another block and blast early in the frame, Alex Duhl collected three kills for the Eagles to help the squad pull out to a 12-7 lead.

Staring at a five-point deficit, CNU eventually pulled back within one at 13-12 after back-to-back blocks by Kidd and Lacy. Although Emory regained its five-point edge at 22-17, Jensen and Kolden fired three straight kills to pull the team back within two. Later, Kolden added two more shots before Lacy chipped in with another block to even the score at 24.

Unfortunately, the momentum was short-lived for the Captains. Refusing to let down, the Eagles turned to Breanah Bourque, who punched home two straight kills to even the contest with a 26-24 victory in the second set.

With the match tied at one, it seemed only fitting that the third set was a back-and-forth affair. Neither team could grab control of the frame despite four early kills by Kolden. Eventually, the two teams found themselves tied at nine. Later, after trading one-point leads, Jensen added another shot and Moore lined an ace to help even the set again at 16.

Although the early part of the third frame was closely-contested, Emory took control in the end. The Eagles won six straight rallies before Jensen and Kidd teamed up on a block. With their run momentarily halted, the squad simply kicked off another one and captured the last three points to take a 25-17 victory.

With their backs against the wall, the Captains responded in the fourth. Standing up against the Emory attack, Kidd and Jensen both recorded two blocks, while Lacy and Kara Elder assisted on a pair to keep the set even at 15. Still deadlocked at 20 after a solo block by Fellows and another put-back by Jensen, CNU slowly pulled away.

Kidd dumped a kill to break the tie before Kolden crushed a pair to help give the squad set-point. Not surprisingly, the Captains closed out the frame with another block as Jensen and Fellows joined forces to even the match at two sets apiece with a 25-22 victory in the fourth.

In the decisive fifth set, Emory got the upper hand early. Cat McGrath notched two quick kills for the Eagles on the way to a 9-4 edge. Despite the deficit, CNU never faltered. Jensen came back with two more blocks before Kolden added a pair of rockets to even the score at 12.

Despite their best efforts, however, the Captains could not quite complete their comeback. Eventually, Alex Duhl recorded a block and kill on the final two rallies to secure a 15-12 victory for the Eagles.

In the end, CNU finished the match with 21.5 blocks, highlighted by 12 from Jensen. Fellows also had six for the Captains, while Lacy chipped in with five. Overall, eight players had a hand in at least one block during the match.

On the offensive end, Kolden set a career-high with 21 kills. Jensen also chipped in with nine, while Lacy had eight. Kidd helped stabilize the attack, dishing out 36 assists while adding six digs and four blocks.

CNU will return to action on Saturday for the final day of the Trinity Invitational. The Captains will take on UC Santa Cruz at 10 a.m. before capping off the tournament against #6 Cal Lutheran at 12:15.

---CNU---