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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – All-American libero Abby Hogge broke the program's career record for digs while helping guide the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team to a pair of victories on the final day of the Trinity Invitational as the Captains took down UC-Santa Cruz, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-13), and #6 Cal Lutheran, 3-1 (25-18, 27-25, 26-28, 25-23) at the Webster Gymnasium.

During the doubleheader, Hogge collected 41 digs to bump her career total to 2,014, which eclipsed Jenna Williams' mark of 2,001 set from 2003-06. Fittingly, Hogge, who was named the Tournament MVP, set the record with another incredible performance. Against Cal Lutheran, the senior standout set the new standard while posting 28 digs, marking her finest single-match effort since tallying 40 against Carthage on September 9, 2011.

In addition to Hogge's record-setting performance, Cory Harris was sensational on Saturday. During the two contests, she roped 26 kills and added 19 digs. Bailey Jensen was a force along the net as well, adding 14 kills and 12 blocks. With her effort, she also became just the second Captain in program history to reach 400 career blocks and now stands just 19 away from tying the all-time record.

With the victories, Christopher Newport (10-2) clinched the Trinity National Invitational Championship after posting a 3-1 record during the tournament. Southwestern finished second in the standings, while Emory placed third.  

In the opener, the Captains raced out to a fast start and never looked back. Bolstered by three kills from Harris, CNU secured a 10-3 lead. After calling a timeout, UC-Santa Cruz made some headway but could never come close to overcoming the squad's daunting deficit. Eventually, Harris and Alyssa Kidd uncorked aces on the way to an 18-11 advantage.

Still holding a seven-point lead, Harris took over and finished off the Banana Slugs. The senior outside hitter blasted three kills before Jensen and Jessie Kolden each lined one to earn set point at 24-16. Fittingly, Harris stepped up to the line and finished off the frame, launching an ace to cap a 25-16 victory.

In the second frame, the Captains jumped out to another fast start. This time, Terran Bargeron led the way. The sophomore launched two kills and teamed up on a pair of blocks to help the squad secure a 14-9 advantage. After that point, the Slugs whittled away at their deficit and pulled within two on a pair of occasions, but CNU never let them get any closer.

Eventually, Harris laced two kills and Jensen turned away a pair of Santa Cruz attacks to give the team a 23-20 lead. From there, Hogge showed her serving prowess with a blistering ace before Jensen iced the frame with another tracer to clinch a 25-22 win.

Leading by two sets, the Captains had little interest in letting their advantage slip away. Harris put on a show in the early going again, blasting four quick kills in the third frame. Chastity Lacy also added three winners, while Christie Fellows had a pair on the way to a double-digit lead at 18-8.

Looking to make quick work of UC-Santa Cruz, Rachel Conway fired an ace after Fellows, Krista Hughes, and Abby McIntyre launched three straight kills. With a 22-10 lead, Chance Rye added her first career kill before a pair of Slug miscues helped the squad clinch the sweep with a 25-13 victory in the third.

Harris finished the match with 12 kills on just 21 swings for a stellar .571 attack percentage. Jensen also had eight kills and hit at a .533 clip, while Kidd had 31 assists and a pair of blocks. Additionally, Hogge chipped in with 13 digs to help set up her historic effort in the nightcap.

During the final match of the invitational, the Captains were tested by a strong Cal Lutheran squad. In the early going, the two teams battled to a 9-9 tie, aided by three kills from Kolden and another Hogge ace. After that point, CNU took over.

Jensen posted a block and blast on back-to-back rallies before Kolden plastered a pair of kills to spark a seven-point run. Leading 16-9, the Captains kept the Regals at bay. Kolden added two more winners before Fellows chipped in with a block and a pair of kills on the way to a 23-13 advantage.

Although Cal Lutheran orchestrated a late run to pull back within five, Harris crushed any hopes of a comeback with a kill and block on the final two rallies to secure a 25-18 victory.

In the second set, the Regals got off to a stronger start and eventually pulled out to a modest three-point lead at 14-11. Although three kills apiece by Kolden and Harris helped CNU remain close, Cal Lutheran stayed ahead by three until 23-20.

With time running out, the Captains came together and made a late push. Fellows fired a devastating kill to start the comeback before Jensen teamed up on a pair of blocks to even the set at 23. Later, a Kolden kill kept the frame knotted at 24 before she unloaded another laser to give the squad set point at 26-25.

Looking to end the stanza right there, Jensen came through again with her third block of the frame to seal the 27-25 victory.

Trailing by two sets, Cal Lutheran came out strong in the third. Although CNU captured the first five rallies behind two Harris blasts and a Kolden ace, the Regals responded. Kylie McLogan pieced together three straight kills, which eventually helped the team even the set at 10.

From there, the two squads fought back-and-forth. Despite two kills by Lacy and a pair by Kolden, neither team could capture the momentum. Eventually, the teams found themselves deadlocked again at 22 with the set up for grabs.

Although Kolden ripped a pair of kills late in the frame, Cal Lutheran always had an answer. Finally, the Regals put an end to the set as McLogan and Allie Eason collected back-to-back kills to pull away with a 28-26 victory.

With the Regals making a late run, Christopher Newport hunkered down in the fourth. Jensen helped the squad get off to a fast start, posting three blocks and a kill on the way to a 10-7 lead. Later, Kidd notched an ace and Harris lined two kills as the Captains stretched their advantage to six at 17-11.

Staring at another large deficit, Cal Lutheran battled back. McLogan added three kills, while Eason and Kennedy Peters chipped in with aces during a late push that evened the score at 20. Still knotted at 23, CNU had enough.

Refusing to go any further, Fellows crushed another winner before Harris came through with the decisive kill to clinch the four-set victory with a 25-23 win in the final frame.

Three Captains had at least 10 kills during the contest with Kolden leading the way. After posting four kills in the first match of the day, the sophomore sensation ripped 19 in the nightcap and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. Harris also had 14 to go along with 10 digs, while Fellows added 10 winners as well.

On the defensive end, Hogge and Jensen were exceptional. Hogge finished with 28 digs, while Jensen had 11 blocks. Kidd also added 10 digs while dishing out 39 assists for her fifth double-double of the season.

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Friday when the team returns home for a 7 p.m. battle against Catholic at the Freeman Center. CNU will also host a USA South Tri-Match on Saturday to open up league play against Ferrum and Meredith beginning at noon.

---CNU---