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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Rachel Conway and Eliza Fisher earned All-Tournament honors as the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team wrapped up the CNU Invitational by splitting a pair of matches on Saturday as the Captains took down Johns Hopkins, 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-16) before falling to No. 7 Mount Union, 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 25-22) at the Freeman Center.

After an incredible effort on Friday evening, Fisher continued her spectacular weekend with 20 more kills and five blocks on Saturday. Overall, she led all players at the tournament with 41 kills and ranked second with a .366 hitting percentage during the four matches.

Conway also collected All-Tournament honors following an equally impressive run. The junior setter posted 65 assists on Saturday and led the entire tournament with 141 helpers over the course of the two-day invitational. She also contributed 15 digs on Saturday, including 10 against Johns Hopkins.

In addition to Conway and Fisher, Maddie McCann also excelled on Saturday with a team-high 24 kills, while Brooke Moore did outstanding work on the defensive end. The senior libero averaged 6.50 digs-per-set on Saturday and finished the tournament with 64 during the four matches.

With the split, Christopher Newport now sits at 11-1 on the season. Mount Union, who finished a perfect 4-0 during the tournament, moved to 10-0 with its victory over the Captains, while Johns Hopkins finished the tournament at 3-8.

In the first battle of the day, the Captains were a bit streaky as the squad faced Johns Hopkins. During the opening frame, the two teams fought to an early 6-6 draw before Ashley Rock pieced together a remarkable run. The sophomore joined forces with Fisher on a pair of blocks while also unloading two kills during a seven-point streak that gave the hosts a comfy 13-6 advantage.

After that point, the set was never in doubt. Hannah Miller and Briana Sutton both fired kills and Moore added an ace to secure a double-digit lead at 20-10. Although the Blue Jays were able to do a little damage at the tail end of the frame, Fisher put an end to the set. The freshman rocketed a kill that loosened up the defense and earned set-point. One rally later, she floated a rainbow to the back line, which caught Johns Hopkins off-guard and sealed the 25-16 win.

Following the quick victory in the first set, Christopher Newport capitalized on a pair of epic comebacks in the final two frames to seal the sweep. During the second set, the Blue Jays grabbed a modest 13-10 advantage despite three kills by McCann and a block and blast by Abby McIntyre. Later, after the visitors stretched their lead to five at 21-16, the Captains shot back.

Fisher led the resurgence with a block and kill, while two JHU miscues pulled the hosts back within one at 21-20. With the momentum shifting, Johns Hopkins whistled for a timeout and stole the next three rallies to earn set-point at 24-20. Backed into a corner, the hosts came out firing. Following a kill by McCann, which gave the ball back to the Captains, CNU capitalized on an incredible run by Rock and Miller to overcome the deficit.

Rock kept the Blue Jays off-balance with a flurry of well-placed serves, including two that tucked just inside the far sideline and eventually landed for aces. Miller did the rest up front as the sophomore stoned a JHU attack for a crucial solo block before teaming with Fisher on another rejection, which helped the squad grab set-point. Finally, an attack error by the visitors sealed the incredible 26-24 comeback victory for the Captains.

After surviving a late hole in the second set, Christopher Newport opted to overcome an early deficit in the third. Johns Hopkins stormed out to a 7-0 lead before CNU called for a timeout. Following the short respite, the Captains looked refreshed and battled back. Miller kicked things off with two blocks before McIntyre stitched together three kills, including a bullet that bounced off a defender, ricocheted off the scoreboard, and finally settled down on the court to pull the squad back within two at 10-8.

That blast helped jumpstart the rest of the surge as the hosts swept seven straight rallies, including two kills and a block by Rock, to grab a 14-10 lead. Although Hopkins momentarily snapped the streak, McIntyre took over and put the set out-of-reach. Peppering the Blue Jays will sensational serves, she eventually notched three aces and added a kill on the way to a 20-12 lead. With the game all but over, McCann took care of the rest. She gave the squad set-point with a dart, and after trying to land a teardrop over the defense, the sophomore went back to the old faithful and cranked a blast to ice the third, 25-16.

Overall, Fisher finished the contest with a match-high 12 kills, while McCann added 11. Conway chipped in with a double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs as well. On the defensive end, Moore locked down the back line with 19 digs, while Rock and Fisher each had five blocks. Miller chimed in with four rejections as well.

After locking up their 11th straight victory, the Captains went back to work against seventh-ranked Mount Union in the finale on Saturday. Facing a veteran-laden squad, which included three senior starters and a fourth-year libero, CNU had a tough going against the Purple Raiders in the first frame. Although Miller clubbed three early kills and Rock added a solo stop, the hosts found themselves trailing, 16-10.

Still battling, McCann hit Mount Union with three kills, including back-to-back rockets. Later, Sutton and Fisher registered two kills apiece, but the visitors held onto their lead and closed out a 25-19 victory.

With momentum on their side, the Purple Raiders jumped out to a big 14-9 lead in the second despite two kills and a block by McCann. Staring at a five-point deficit, the Captains regrouped. Sutton caught fire with two big bullets, while Conway and Miller each dropped in winners to grab the lead at 17-16. Later, McCann came back with another kill to push the lead to 23-21, but the tide began to turn after that.

Mount Union swept the next three rallies to grab set-point entering a CNU timeout. From there, the two squads traded blows during an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Miller and Fisher both chipped in with kills and the Captains capitalized on an MU miscue to keep the set tied at 26. Unfortunately, the Purple Raiders had just enough left to steal two straight rallies and take the second, 28-26.

Trailing by two sets for the first time all year, Christopher Newport continued to battle but simply could not consistently crack the Mount Union defense. The visitors blanketed the court and benefited from unbelievable play by their libero to cap off the sweep. Although Miller continued to do work with three kills and both Rock and McCann smacked aces early in the third, the Purple Raiders were able to snatch a 13-8 lead heading into a CNU timeout.

Still down 20-13 following another stoppage, the Captains had one last gasp late in the frame. Fisher fired a kill and ace, McCann added a pair of darts, and Miller ripped off a winner to pull the team back within two at 20-18. Shortly thereafter, Sutton clubbed two kills and Conway teamed with Rock on a block to get within one at 23-22. Unfortunately, just as they did in the second, the Purple Raiders won the last two rallies to clinch the 25-22 victory.

During the contest, McCann had 13 kills, Sutton added 11, and Miller fired 10. Conway helped balance out the attack with 36 assists, while Moore was great on the back row with 20 digs. Rachel Close also collected 10 digs for the Captains.

In addition to Conway and Fisher, five other players earned All-Tournament honors for their efforts over the weekend. Mount Union's Kara Berger was honored as the MVP, while her teammates Lauren Mastroine and Sarah Schleich collected All-Tournament nods as well. Johns Hopkins' Anne Cohen and Berry's Anna Keappler rounded out the squad.

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Friday for the first day of the Juniata / Asics Invitational in Huntingdon, Pa. The Captains will open up against SUNY Cortland at 6 p.m. before squaring off with Juniata at 8 p.m.

---CNU---