Box Score VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- After jumping three spots in the latest AVCA National Poll, the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team defended its top-10 position with a victory over intrastate rival Virginia Wesleyan as the Captains took down the Marlins, 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 25-16, 25-20) on Tuesday night at The Batten Center.
During the match,
Hannah Miller led the Captains with 11 kills and three blocks while hitting .318 against the Marlins.
Maddie McCann also pumped 10 kills and added nine digs, while
Rachel Conway dished out 35 assists. On the defensive end,
Brooke Moore helped stabilize the back row with 14 digs, including 10 in the first two sets.
With the victory, CNU extended its winning streak to four matches and improved to 15-1 on the season. The setback dropped Virginia Wesleyan to 9-4.
During the first set on Tuesday, the Marlins gave the Captains a bit of a scare early on as the hosts pulled out to a modest 10-7 lead heading into a CNU timeout. Fortunately, the break paid dividends as McCann and
Eliza Fisher both fired a pair of kills, while
Abby McIntyre dropped in an ace to secure a 14-12 lead.
Although Virginia Wesleyan momentarily tied the set again at 14, Christopher Newport orchestrated an incredible run at the tail end of the frame to seal the victory. McCann got things rolling with a dart before
Briana Sutton took control. The sophomore standout plastered the Marlins with four kills and teamed up with Miller on a block during a 10-point run, which gave the visitors a 24-14 advantage. Two rallies later, a VWC miscue handed CNU a 25-15 victory in the first.
The second set played much like the first in the early going as the Marlins ran out to a quick 10-6 edge. Although
Ashley Rock was able to land an early blow and Sutton chipped in with two kills of her own, the Captains simply could not find their footing. Later, the hosts continued to pull away. McCann kept battling with two late kills, while Sutton and Rock stuffed an attack attempt, but Virginia Wesleyan always had an answer and evened the match with a 25-18 triumph in the second.
Back on even ground, Christopher Newport wasted little time bouncing back in the third. Miller was at the forefront of the resurgence with three bullets, while Conway floated in a teardrop to nail down an 11-6 lead heading into a VWC timeout. Although the hosts were able to keep the score close in the middle of the set, CNU eventually pieced together a late surge to cap off the frame.
During a four-point run, Conway showed off her defensive skills by teaming with Miller and Rock on a pair of blocks, which gave CNU a 23-14 edge. Looking to cap the set off quickly, Rock hammered home a kill before another Marlin miscue sealed the 25-16 win for the Captains.
One set away from a victory, Christopher Newport went right to work in the fourth. Rock and McIntyre both smacked aces, while Miller chimed in with two kills and a block. Sutton also came through with a devastating solo stop and Fisher blistered a kill to snatch a 12-7 lead.
Looking for a little more cushion, Miller kicked off a three-point run by painting the three-meter line with a gorgeous kill. Later, McCann and McIntyre got the Marlins off balance with one ace apiece, while Sutton and Rock added kills. Following another dart by Fisher, which pushed CNU's advantage to 22-17, Miller chipped in with the defensive play of the game.
With the Marlins hoping for a comeback bid, Virginia Wesleyan floated a serve, which caught the top of the net and dripped over onto CNU's side. In a flash, Miller laid out and made a gorgeous diving play to keep the ball from landing. Eventually, Conway took control of the pass and quickly dished to Fisher, who unloaded another rocket that gave the Captains a 23-18 edge.
Although the hosts won the next two rallies, CNU never let Virginia Wesleyan back into the contest. Eventually, a VWC error gave the visitors match-point before McCann punctuated a strong evening with one more ace to seal the 25-20 victory.
McCann and McIntyre both had three aces for the Captains, while Fisher and Sutton contributed eight kills apiece. Conway and Sutton also had three blocks to tie Miller for the team-lead.
Christopher Newport will be back in action on Friday when the squad heads to Averett for a 6 p.m. battle in Danville, Virginia.
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