Box Score

BUENA VISTA, Va. – Briana Sutton posted her third straight double-digit kill effort, while Rachel Conway matched career-highs with four aces and six blocks as the Christopher Newport volleyball team took down Southern Virginia, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-23) on Tuesday evening at the Knight Sports Arena.

During the contest, Sutton pumped a match-high 11 kills while hitting at a .292 clip. Conway came through with half of CNU's eight aces and also led the way with 12 assists. In addition to her efforts on the offensive end, she tied Chastity Lacy for the team-lead with six blocks as well.

With the victory, the Captains move to 12-11 on the season, while the loss drops Southern Virginia to 9-6. The win marks the second for CNU against the Knights this year after posting a 3-1 triumph during the Washington & Lee Invitational last month.

On Tuesday, Christopher Newport got off to a rough start in the first set despite two blasts by Sutton and a pair of blocks by Conway. Eventually, Southern Virginia picked up four straight kills by Kaitlyn Eaton to secure a 14-9 edge following a CNU timeout. Although Maddie McCann popped an ace before Conway came through with another block and kill, the Captains still found themselves trailing late, 20-18.

Unfazed by the deficit, Conway took control from the service line. The sophomore setter drilled three aces, while Lacy and Sutton each uncorked kills to bounce back and earn set-point at 24-22. Despite a Southern Virginia timeout, Christopher Newport took the next rally following a Knight miscue to earn the 25-22 victory.

After grabbing the first set, CNU engaged in a back-and-forth affair early in the second. Hannah Miller came through with a kill and two blocks, while Lacy chimed in with an ace on the way to an 11-11 deadlock. Still evenly matched, Conway added another block and McCann unloaded three bullets, but the score remained tied at 21.

With both teams struggling to find a consistent rhythm, Lacy took charge. The senior All-American teamed up with Conway on a block before firing a kill to earn set-point at 24-23. Once again, Southern Virginia called for a timeout, but the stoppage did little as Conway chucked an ace after the break to seal the 25-23 victory.

Fittingly, the third set followed suit and was another seesaw battle. Sutton collected two quick kills, while Lacy and Krista Hughes each came through with a block and blast on the way to a 10-10 tie. Later, Hughes and Lacy joined forces again on another rejection before a string of Southern Virginia errors gave the Captains an 18-13 lead.

Staring at a huge deficit, the Knights battled back and picked up four straight kills by Tori Tuttle to knot the set at 19. Refusing to extend the match any further, Ashley Rock stoned the next attack attempt before Conway and Lacy teamed up on another block to grab a 23-20 lead. Although Southern Virginia made a minor run at the end, Sutton closed out the match with a tracer to ice the 25-23 win.

Defensively, Brooke Moore posted 13 digs and converted each of her 13 reception attempts. Paxton Crooks also collected seven digs and seven assists, while Hughes had three blocks and four kills. McCann came through with six digs and a perfect 17-for-17 effort on serve-receive as well.

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Friday when the Captains host Virginia Wesleyan at 6 p.m.

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