NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Led by a suffocating defensive effort, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team won its seventh straight match on Wednesday evening as the Captains stormed past Mary Washington, 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-21), during a Capital Athletic Conference battle at the Freeman Center.
 
During the match, the Captains utilized a strong presence along the net and an outstanding performance on the back row to hold the Eagles to a -.019 hitting percentage. It marked the second time this season that CNU has held an opponent to a negative percentage and only the second time in the last two years that Mary Washington has finished a match below zero.
 
Leading the way, Hannah Miller registered four blocks for CNU, while Ashley Rock added three. Keeping the court clean, Briana Sutton and Rachel Close contributed 14 digs apiece, and Abby McIntyre chipped in with eight. On the offensive end, Sutton finished with a double-double after leading the team with 10 kills, while Miller chipped in with nine.
 
Showcasing a perfect marriage between offensive and defensive domination, Rachel Conway had another outstanding effort as well. The senior setter finished with 31 assists to go along with seven digs and two blocks.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 19-2 on the season, including 4-0 in league action. The setback drops Mary Washington to 16-6 overall and 3-2 in conference tilts.
 
From the outset, the Captains set the tone and found their rhythm. Maddie McCann leveled the opposition with a pair of quick kills before Conway and Miller kicked off the defensive highlights. Engaging an attacker along the net, Conway joined forces with Miller on a huge block that gave the hosts a fast 7-3 edge.
 
Although the visitors were able to battle back and knot the score at 12, CNU never faltered. McIntyre and Sutton lit up a pair of defenders with two devastating blows that ricocheted behind press row. Later, Rock joined the fun with two kills of her own, including a beautiful tip over the block, to regain a healthy advantage at 17-13.
 
Still rolling, Rock helped close out the set in style. The senior launched another kill before registering a pair of blocks, including a back-breaking solo stop, to grab set-point at 24-15. Although the Eagles fought hard at the end of the frame, including a crazy, highlight-reel, 18-play rally, the Captains eventually finished them off. Tying the knot on the first frame, Conway dished to McIntyre, who blew a rocket through a block attempt to seal the 25-18 victory.
 
With one win in the books, the Captains stormed out to a huge lead in the second. Miller and Madi Wickens highlighted the early surge with a breathtaking run. Taking over at the service line, Wickens hammered the Eagles with a perfect combination of teardrop serves and well-placed bullets to keep the Mary Washington defense on its heels. Meanwhile, Miller landed a floater and rocket for back-to-back kills before teaming with McIntyre on a block to grab an 8-1 lead.
 
Still motoring along, Close came through with an acrobatic diving dig on the back row before Sutton dished to McIntyre, who kept the run going with another dart to snare a 9-1 advantage. Shortly thereafter, McIntyre snapped off an ace and Miller added a solo block to push the lead to 12-2.
 
With a huge advantage, the Captains toyed with the UMW blockers as Sutton unleashed a tracer off their fingers before McCann gently tipped a kill over their out-stretched hands to grab a 15-6 edge. Looking to close out the set quickly, Rock added a kill and ace during the waning moments, while Sutton punched a pair of blasts to wrap up the frame, 25-12.
 
After a quick victory in the second stanza, CNU had a tougher time in the third. McCann contributed two kills and a block in the early going, but the Captains found themselves holding only a modest lead at 10-9. Later, Miller crushed a shot that pin-balled off a pair of defenders before Rock lit another ace to snare a 13-9 edge heading into a Mary Washington timeout.
 
Following the break, the Eagles took flight and used an impressive mid-set surge to steal a three-point advantage at 18-15. Shaking off the momentary setback, the Captains won four straight rallies, including a shot by Sutton that painted the back corner, to grab a 19-18 lead. Later, Miller and Sutton added two more kills and Close clocked an ace to snare a 23-19 advantage.
 
With Sutton one kill shy of a double-double, Conway appeared committed to getting the junior her 10th kill. Feeding her a steady stream of sets, she eventually connected with her fellow All-American on a dagger to earn match-point at 24-21. With the end in sight, the Captains turned back to Conway to ring up the Eagles as she laced an ace to close out the festivities, 25-21.
 
With her 10 kills during the match, Sutton bumped her career total to 958, which moved her past former All-American Caitlin Jansen into 10th place on the program's all-time list. Meanwhile, McCann added seven kills and a pair of blocks during a well-rounded performance on Wednesday, while Rock contributed four kills and two aces. Helping pace a strong effort on serve-receive as well, Close and Evelyn Harper combined to convert all 18 of their reception attempts during the match.
 
Christopher Newport will be back in action on Thursday evening when the Captains host William Peace in a non-conference showdown at 7 p.m.
 
---CNU---