Box Score
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Behind another sensational effort by Bailey Jensen, the top-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team kept its pristine record intact with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-23) victory over #16 Puget Sound to open the Juniata Asics Invitational on Friday evening at the Memorial Gymnasium.

Jensen led CNU's offensive effort, blasting 16 kills on just 27 swings for a stellar .519 hitting percentage. Once again, Jessie Kolden caught fire as well, launching 14 kills while hitting at a .341 clip. Both standouts also contributed two blocks, while Krista Hughes had a team-high three stuffs for the Captains.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 6-0 with its second win over a ranked opponent in 2012 after disposing of #9 Eastern a week ago. The setback marks the first of the year for the Loggers, who now stand at 4-1.

Fittingly, Jensen got the Captains off and running in the first set, blasting three quick kills on the way to an 8-3 lead for CNU. Following a timeout, Puget Sound stormed back and cut its deficit down to one at 14-13 before Jensen took over again.

With their lead all but gone, the Captains turned to their senior standout, who did not disappoint. Jensen teamed with Christie Fellows on a block before unloading four kills as the squad extended their advantage back to five at 20-15. Later, another kill by Jensen and a rocket by Kolden helped CNU keep its edge on the way to a 25-20 victory in the first frame.

In the second set, Puget Sound came out on the attack. The two squads traded blows and battled to eight early ties, highlighted by three kills from Kolden and a pair of shots by Cory Harris. Later, Kolden and Hughes teamed up on a block that helped CNU take a modest 11-9 edge heading into a Puget Sound timeout.

During the break, the Loggers regrouped and whittled away at their deficit. After another kill by Kolden, Puget Sound rolled off five straight winners, including three kills by Jackie Harvey, to take a 15-12 lead heading into CNU's first timeout.

Refreshed and reenergized, the Captains stormed back. Fellows laced a kill and Jensen posted a block and blast on consecutive rallies to even the set at 15. Later, Harris and Kidd roped shots to break the deadlock before Kolden launched a rocket and teamed with Hughes on a crushing block to give CNU a 22-20 lead.

Following a timeout, Kolden did not miss a beat. The sophomore sensation lined back-to-back kills to give CNU set point. Two rallies later, Kidd and Chastity Lacy stuffed a Logger attack to give the Captains a 25-21 victory.

In the final frame, the Captains looked primed to put a quick end to the match. Fellows opened the set with a rocket before Jensen roped four kills in the next five rallies. Later, Kolden chipped in with a pair of lasers before Kidd fired an ace to give the squad an imposing 13-4 advantage.

Staring at a nine-point deficit, Puget Sound refused to go down quietly. The Loggers captured eight of the next 10 rallies to pull within three at 15-12. Still trailing by three at 21-18, Puget Sound called a timeout looking to complete its comeback bid.

Despite the late rally by the Loggers, CNU never relented. The squad capitalized on a kill by Lacy and a Puget Sound miscue to pull within two points of their sixth straight sweep. Fittingly, the Captains turned to Jensen to finish off the match as the senior standout crushed a pair of kills in the last three rallies to secure the 25-23 win.

Kidd helped pace the Captain attack, posting 33 assists for CNU. She also chipped in with 13 digs for her second straight double-double and her third of the season. Abby Hogge also added a match-high 17 digs, while Harris had 16.

Christopher Newport will look to continue its roll on Saturday with a doubleheader to wrap up the tournament. The Captains will kick off the day at 1 p.m. against #5 Wittenberg in a rematch of last year's National Championship bout. Later, the squad will wrap up the tournament against #9 Juniata at 5 p.m.

--CNU--