NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport volleyball team found a rhythm early and never looked back as the Captains rolled past Frostburg State, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-16) before sweeping William Peace, 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-22) during a tri-match on Saturday afternoon at the Freeman Center.

During the two contests, Abby McIntyre and Jessie Kolden led the way with 13 kills apiece, while Rachel Conway was incredibly economical on the offensive end. The sophomore standout added 10 kills on just 12 swings to go along with a team-high 35 assists and four aces. Evelyn Harper led the way defensively with a pair of double-digit dig efforts. She also smacked six aces to round out a strong afternoon.

With the two victories, Christopher Newport improves to 15-11 on the season, including 2-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference. Following Saturday's action, Frostburg State sits at 3-22, while William Peace is 19-4.

After walking off with a 3-0 victory over Virginia Wesleyan just 15 hours earlier, the Captains stumbled a bit at the start of the first set against Frostburg State. Although Conway uncorked back-to-back aces and Briana Sutton added a pair of kills, Christopher Newport trailed, 14-7. Despite the deficit, CNU remained confident and orchestrated one of its finest runs of the season.

McIntyre got things rolling with a block and two kills, while Ashley Rock launched a laser and chipped in with a rejection. Later, Harper slung a pair of aces and McIntyre added another shot to cap off an incredible nine-point roll that gave the Captains a 16-14 edge. With momentum on its side, CNU never relinquished that lead as Conway came through with two kills and a pair of aces to clinch the 25-17 victory.

With a one-set lead, Christopher Newport blew out of the gate early in the second. Sutton notched a block and kill, McIntyre lit up the Bobcats with two darts and an ace, and Conway joined forces with Rock on a back-breaking block that forced Frostburg State to call a timeout down 16-5.

Clutching a double-digit advantage, Terran Bargeron tacked on a block and two blasts to nail down a late 22-10 edge. With more than enough breathing room, McIntyre earned set-point with a kill before Chance Rye hammered home the clincher to seal a 25-13 win.

With one more match looming, the Captains looked to close out the opener quickly with an incredible surge in the early part of the third set. McIntyre got things rolling with back-to-back aces before Kolden smoked four kills to earn an 11-3 lead. Later, Rye added the most devastating kill of the match after taking a feed from Paxton Crooks and unloading a tremendous blast that sent the Bobcat defense scrambling and got the crowd on its feet.

Leading 13-5, McIntyre and Hannah Miller tacked on a block, while Kolden added two more kills before Frostburg State whistled for a timeout trailing, 19-11. After a pair of FSU miscues gave the Captains a double-digit advantage, Miller and Maddie McCann chucked back-to-back kills before Harper smacked an ace to cap off the contest with a 25-16 victory in the third.

Against Frostburg State, McIntyre led the squad with 10 kills on 18 swings. Conway also had a sensational match, posting 20 assists, four aces, and six kills on just seven attempts. On the defensive end, Harper chipped in with her second straight double-digit dig performance, while Brooke Moore also tallied 10 for the Captains.

After beating Frostburg State for the first-time in program history, Christopher Newport matched up against a familiar foe in the nightcap. Battling former USA South foe William Peace, the Captains got off to a great start behind Sutton, Rock, and Krista Hughes. Sutton got things started with three early kills before Hughes and Rock teamed up on two straight blocks on the way to an imposing 13-7 lead.

With a six-point advantage, Miller fired a pair of kills, while Sutton did the same to secure a 21-13 lead. Easing towards the victory, McIntyre smacked a kill, Moore crushed an ace, and Rock capped off the frame with another bullet to seal the 25-20 win.

Holding a one-set lead, the Captains made quick work of the Pacers in the second stanza. Conway got to work early with a kill and two assists. Later, Rock lit up the William Peace defense with three straight aces to cap off an impressive eight-point rally that handed CNU a 15-4 lead.

Looking to close out the set fast, Kolden came through with two late kills, while Harper smacked a pair of aces and cleaned up along the back row with an unbelievable three-dig rally towards the end of the frame. Eventually, Conway came back with a kill and assist during the waning moments to seal the set, 25-8.

After the lopsided victory in the second, Christopher Newport grabbed control of the third as well. From the outset, Moore clubbed an ace before McIntyre added two straight winners on the way to a 14-9 lead. Unfortunately, the Pacers fought back. Although Rock chimed in with a pair of blocks, including a sensational solo stop, William Peace never gave up and eventually earned a late 19-18 edge.

Staring at a modest one-point deficit, the Captains shrugged off the setback and retaliated. Rye assaulted the Pacers with two rockets, while Kolden and Rock added one each to earn set-point at 24-22. Fittingly, after tremendous work defensively all day, Harper also came through with the clinching ace to seal the sweep with a 25-22 triumph in the third.

During the contest, Harper pounded three aces and set a new career-high with 12 digs. Moore also chipped in with nine digs, while Rock had three blocks and five kills. Once again, Conway was especially efficient on the offense end, posting four kills on just five attempts in addition to her 15 assists. Kolden also finished with seven kills as well.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. when the team hosts Wesley in another Capital Athletic Conference bout at the Freeman Center.

---CNU---