Box Score
ASHLAND, Va. -- Briana Sutton unloaded 12 kills and Krista Hughes recorded a career-high five blocks, but the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team could not overcome an early two-set deficit as the Captains fell to Randolph-Macon, 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22) on Friday evening at Crenshaw Gymnasium.
During the contest, Sutton came through with three blocks and the fifth double-digit kill effort of her career to help lead CNU. Hughes also chipped in with a team-high five stops to go along with five kills, while Abby McIntyre notched 10 blasts as well.
The setback drops Christopher Newport to 11-11 on the season, while the victory bumps Randolph-Macon to 13-6.
In the beginning of the first set, the Captains broke out of the gate quickly. McIntyre kept the Yellow Jackets off-balance from the service line, while
Hannah Miller collected a pair of early blocks on the way to a fast 6-0 advantage. Later,
Chastity Lacy recorded two kills before Hughes tacked on a solo block to sustain a six-point edge at 12-6.
Unfortunately, the early lead evaporated as Randolph-Macon orchestrated a huge mid-set surge. The hosts ripped off nine of the next 11 winners to grab a one-point edge before Miller fired a bullet to even the score at 15. Still on the attack, the Yellow Jackets kept their run going and capitalized on a pair of three-point streaks to nail down a 25-19 victory in the first frame.
Still rolling at the start of the second, R-MC stormed out to a 10-6 edge. After that point, the Captains used a nice effort along the net to keep the game within reach as Lacy and
Rachel Conway each collaborated on two blocks apiece to help CNU pull back within two at 13-11. Later, McIntyre uncorked a pair of rockets to bookend a three-point roll that whittled the deficit down to one at 16-15.
With Christopher Newport piecing together a comeback bid, Randolph-Macon emphatically responded. The hosts went on a four-point tear, and after Hughes broke the roll with a kill, the Yellow Jackets swept five of the last seven rallies to earn a 25-18 win in the second stanza.
Looking to end the match quickly, R-MC controlled the beginning of the third set and opened up a fast 7-3 lead. Undeterred, Sutton and Miller each banged two kills, while Hughes and Lacy added back-to-back darts to help even the score at nine. Later, after the Yellow Jackets broke the deadlock, Lacy retaliated with a block and kill to snatch a 12-10 edge.
Although Randolph-Macon battled back and knotted the frame several times, Christopher Newport refused to fall behind. McIntyre came through with two big kills to keep the lead before Sutton chipped in with a pair, including a shot that gave the visitors set-point at 24-23. Despite a momentary hiccup that kept the frame alive, Hughes and Sutton teamed up on two straight blocks to close out a 26-24 victory.
At the start of the fourth frame, both squads alternated runs on the way to an 8-8 tie. Continuing to trade blows, the two teams remained close before Sutton's fourth kill of the set gave CNU a tiny advantage at 14-13. Later, after R-MC momentarily pulled away, McIntyre chipped in with two shots, while Lacy added a block and blast to knot the score again at 19.
Continuing to battle, Lacy kept the game tied with another kill before Sutton added two to even the frame again at 22. Unfortunately, Randolph-Macon had a little more left in the tank and swept the final three rallies to grab the four-set victory with a 25-22 win in the final stanza.
Lacy and Miller both finished the match with four blocks, while Conway and
Paxton Crooks each had 18 assists.
Rachel Close helped anchor the back row with 19 digs, while
Brooke Moore had 10.
Christopher Newport will continue its road swing on Tuesday when the squad heads to Buena Vista, Virginia for a 5 p.m. clash with Southern Virginia.
---CNU---
