NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 13th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team extended its winning streak to six straight matches with another sweep as the Captains stormed past St. Mary's, 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-17), during a Capital Athletic Conference battle on Wednesday evening at the Freeman Center.
During the contest, CNU overwhelmed the Seahawks with a .380 hitting percentage while also pumping 10 aces.
Maddie McCann led the way with nine kills while hitting at a .474 clip.
Hannah Miller contributed eight kills as well, while
Rachel Conway stuffed the stat sheet with 26 assists, five kills, and a team-high three aces.
On the defensive end,
Ashley Rock played a role in six of the team's eight blocks, while
Eliza Fisher assisted on four rejections.
Brooke Moore anchored the back row with 11 digs.
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 24-3 on the season, including 6-0 in league play. The setback drops St. Mary's to 13-8 overall and 3-3 in conference action.
Although the Captains stumbled a bit early in the first set and fell behind 4-1, the team quickly regrouped. Miller led the resurgence with back-to-back blasts before Fisher slung an ace to help cap off a five-point streak that gave the hosts a 6-4 advantage. Later, after
Abby McIntyre smacked an ace and Conway and Miller teamed up on a huge block to sustain the modest lead, CNU put the set away with a back-breaking rally.
Briana Sutton kicked off the mid-set surge with a bullet before Conway took over at the line. The junior setter kept the Seahawks off-balance with a flurry of well-placed serves, including a pair of aces. Rock also dominated along the front line, teaming with Fisher and Sutton on two rejections before adding a stunning solo block to help snatch a 19-8 lead. From there, the hosts rolled. Rock stuffed another attack before Miller contributed a block and blast on back-to-back rallies to lock up a 25-13 win.
The second set played much like the first as the two squads were evenly matched early before CNU pulled away. Miller pounded three quick kills and McCann added a dart of her own on the way to a slim 7-5 lead. After the Seahawks pulled back within one, Conway stung the visitors with a kill and ace on two straight rallies before the Captains came through with a highlight-reel play.
Following a tough attack attempt by the Seahawks, Moore scooted over to the near sideline and made an impressive dig that sent the ball spinning across the court. After Fisher got a touch to keep the ball alive,
Jessie Kolden made a remarkable, out-stretched, off-balance dig on the far sideline. Just trying to save the ball and send it back to St. Mary's, the senior managed to toss a no-look floater over her head that caught the top of the tape and dripped over the net for a spectacular kill.
Later, Rock came through with another block and kill to help push the lead to 16-10. Although the visitors were able to chip their deficit back down to three, the Captains used another suffocating surge to seal the win. Sutton opened things up with another rocket before drilling an ace that handcuffed a Seahawk and ricocheted off her chest and into the crowd. McCann also continued her hot streak with three kills before
Brooke Sanders capped off the second with an ace to close out a 25-16 triumph.
Continuing to follow the same script that worked in the first two frames, Christopher Newport started slowly in the third before running away with the set. McCann hit St. Mary's with three early kills and Rock added a pair, but CNU found itself trailing, 9-8. Needing to grab some momentum, Rock tattooed a kill and ace before McCann added a shot off the head of an SMC blocker to grab a 13-9 advantage.
Although St. Mary's was able to retie the set at 14, the Captains never trailed again. McCann and Moore both peppered aces, while Sutton came through with a pair of kills to secure a 20-15 lead. Looking to finish the Seahawks off quickly, Kolden added a pair of back-row bullets before Rock continued her defensive dominance with one last block to help take the third, 25-17.
In addition to her six blocks, Rock also collected five kills on just nine swings. Sutton also added six kills for the Captains, while Kolden had three on four attempts.
Rachel Close did solid work on the defensive end as well, pocketing seven digs for CNU.
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday for a 7 p.m. showdown with Randolph-Macon.
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