Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHICAGO -- Behind a strong defensive effort, the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team split a pair of matches on the first day of the Gargoyle Classic as the Captains toppled Benedictine, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) before falling in a hard-fought nightcap against No. 14 Chicago, 3-2 (22-25, 15-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-10) on Friday evening at the Ratner Athletic Center.

During the two contests, the Captains posted 22 blocks, including 13 by reigning All-American Chastity Lacy. The senior standout also clubbed 18 kills and added five aces for good measure. Along with Lacy's contributions, Maddie McCann pumped 17 kills during the two matches, while Paxton Crooks had a team-high 38 assists.

With the split on Friday, Christopher Newport moves to 8-6 on the season. Chicago is now 9-4, while Benedictine is 5-6 overall.

Getting off on the right foot, Christopher Newport opened the Gargoyle Classic with an impressive defensive display against Benedictine. During the three-set sweep, the Captains posted 11 total blocks, including nine by Lacy. Rachel Conway also assisted on four stops, while Abby McIntyre helped out on three to anchor the front line.

In the first set, Lacy set the tone early with back-to-back blocks to open the match before Conway added a pair on the way to a 12-12 tie entering a CNU timeout. Following the break, the two teams continued to trade runs, including a block and blast by McCann and an ace from Taylor Maddox, which led to a deadlock at 20.

With the end near, the Captains orchestrated one last run. A string of Benedictine miscues gave CNU set-point at 24-21. Fittingly, Lacy and Conway put an end to the frame with one last block to seal the first set, 25-21.

With a little momentum, Christopher Newport rallied in the beginning of the second stanza. Once again, the defense led the surge as Lacy teamed up with McIntyre and McCann on a pair of blocks on the way to a 12-8 lead. After Benedictine called for a timeout, the Captains kept rolling. Lacy punched a pair of kills and added another rejection before Maddox punctuated the rally with an ace to give the squad a 20-14 advantage.

Although the Eagles tried to respond at the end, the deficit was simply too much to overcome. Once again, a spate of errors by Benedictine helped close out the frame, while Lacy chipped in with an ace to ice the 25-19 win.

Holding a two-set lead, CNU pulled out to a commanding 15-9 edge in the third behind four kills by Lacy and aces by McCann and Crooks. Battling hard, Benedictine eventually fought back and momentarily grabbed a 16-15 lead before a bullet by McIntyre knotted the set on the very next rally.

With a fight on their hands, the Captains traded blows and battled to six ties, including the final one at 22-22. Looking forward to the sweep, Christopher Newport came through in the end. Once again, Conway and Lacy joined forces on another crucial block to give the squad set-point at 24-22. After the Eagles won the next rally, Conway dished to Jessie Kolden, who unloaded a tracer to put an end to the match with a 25-23 victory in the third.

Along with her nine blocks, Lacy tied with Hannah Miller for the team-lead with seven kills. McCann also had six blasts to go along with 10 digs and two blocks, while Conway had 16 assists. Lacy, McIntyre, and Maddox chipped in with a pair of aces as well.

After an excellent effort in the first match of the day, Christopher Newport looked just as strong in the early part of the nightcap. During the squad's top-25 showdown with Chicago, the Captains battled to a quick 13-13 tie behind two kills by Lacy and an ace by Crooks. Later in the first set, after the hosts swept the next three rallies, CNU whistled for a timeout and regrouped in the break.

McIntyre led Christopher Newport's comeback with a kill and two aces on the way to a slim 19-18 edge. Later, after the Maroons evened the score again, Lacy fired a shot to break the tie before Maddox ripped an ace. Three rallies later, following a UC timeout, McCann and Lacy teamed up on a block to earn set point before a Chicago error gave CNU a 25-22 victory in the opening set.

Off to a good start, the Captains once again engaged in a back-and-forth affair during the early part of the second set. Lacy chucked two quick kills, while Miller added one and a block on the way to a 10-10 tie. Looking for a little wiggle room, McCann came through with a pair of bullets, while McIntyre and Miller collected solo blocks to help build a 19-12 lead.

Although Chicago continued to fight, Christopher Newport rolled to the victory. McIntyre added a rocket and ace during the waning moments of the set before Conway dropped in the clinching kill to secure a 25-15 win in the second stanza.

Unfortunately, just one set away from the victory, the Captains could not close out the win. Although CNU got off to a strong start in the third, behind two blocks by Lacy and three kills by Miller, the squad eventually found itself knotted at 17. From there, the hosts took over. Winning eight of the final 12 rallies, Chicago stole the third frame, 25-21.

Back in the match, the Maroons did more damage in the fourth. McCann did her best to keep the Captains in the set with three big blasts in the early going, but UC earned an 18-12 advantage. CNU tried to make a late push, highlighted by aces from Maddox and Lacy, but the comeback fell short. Miller collected a kill and block during the final five rallies, but the hosts evened the match with a 25-20 win in the fourth.

In the final frame, Chicago used its late-match momentum to storm out to a quick 4-1 lead heading into a CNU timeout. The stoppage paid dividends as Miller and Lacy combined for two kills and a pair of blocks to knot the score at six. Unfortunately, the squad could never completely overcome its deficit. Lacy added another late kill, while Miller staved off match-point with a huge solo block, but UC eventually clinched the victory with a 15-10 win in the fifth.

Overall, Lacy and McCann finished with 11 kills apiece, while Miller added nine to go along with six blocks. Rachel Close led the back row with 18 digs against the Maroons, and Crooks had a match-high 28 assists. McIntyre also chipped in with 12 digs, seven kills, and three aces to help fill up the stat sheet.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday for another twin bill to wrap up the Gargoyle Classic. The Captains will open against Wisconsin Lutheran at 10:30 a.m. before squaring off with No. 6 Elmhurst at 2:30 p.m.

---CNU---