WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Briana Sutton drove home her 1000th career kill to headline another impressive evening by the junior standout as she helped guide the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team past Gallaudet, 3-1 (25-27, 25-12, 25-23, 25-17), during a non-conference battle at the GU Field House on Tuesday.
 
Entering the game just seven kills shy of reaching 1000, Sutton blew right past that mark and finished with a match-high 19 blasts while hitting at a .531 clip. With that performance, she became just the ninth member of CNU's prestigious 1000-kill club and the first to join since Bailey Jensen in 2012. She is also just the fourth junior to reach the benchmark, joining former standouts Amber Bradshaw and Oksana Boukhtina as well as current head coach Lindsay Birch.
 
In addition to Sutton's historic evening, several other Captains pieced together impressive efforts on Tuesday. Abby McIntyre lined 13 kills and three aces, while Ashley Rock contributed seven blocks and six kills. Meanwhile, Rachel Conway chipped in with her fourth double-double of the season after collecting 47 assists and 13 digs.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport extends its winning streak to 11 consecutive matches and improves to 23-2 on the season. The setback drops Gallaudet to 17-9.
 
At the beginning of the match, McIntyre showed off her well-rounded skill set to get the Captains off on the right foot. The senior blistered a rocket that bounced to the back wall before spinning a perfectly-placed serve that helped lead to a free-ball kill by Hannah Miller. Later, she posted a pair of digs to keep one rally alive before Sutton punctuated the play with a dagger for her first kill of the contest to grab a modest 5-4 lead.
 
Later, during a solid run in the middle of the set, McIntyre unleashed an ace, while Sutton and Maddie McCann fired kills to help grab a 15-10 advantage. Unfortunately, the Bison continued to battle and chip away at their deficit. Although the Captains pieced together some gritty play late in the stanza, including a huge diving save by Rock on the back row, the hosts were able to pull even at 23. Shortly thereafter, McIntyre and Sutton snapped off back-to-back kills to earn set-point at 25-24, but Gallaudet called for a timeout and eventually stole the last three rallies to win the first, 27-25.
 
Brushing off the early setback, Christopher Newport stormed out quickly in the second. McIntyre registered two fast kills, while Miller added a pair of her own, including a shot that ricocheted deep into the crowd, on the way to a 7-3 edge. Later, after Rock pounded two kills to help extend the lead, Sutton took control and inched towards history.
 
The Williamsburg native flashed her cannon on back-to-back kills to take a 14-4 lead and force a Gallaudet timeout. Following the break, she continued her assault with a beautiful roll shot to pull within one kill of 1000. Two rallies later, Sutton landed the historic blow after taking a feed from Conway and smashing a shot to the far sideline that nearly caught the 10-foot stripe to secure a tremendous 18-4 advantage.
 
Continuing to roll, Sutton went to work on her next 1000 kills with a dart to the back line before Katelyn Newsome entered the match and joined the fun. Pushing the lead to 20-8, the sophomore roped a rocket, marking her ninth consecutive swing that ended in a kill dating back to Thursday's match against William Peace. With more than enough breathing room, Miller punched two straight kills before McIntyre found a seam and drove home the clincher to lock up the second, 25-12.
 
After stealing back the momentum with a phenomenal performance in the second stanza, CNU showed off its serving prowess in the third. Madi Wickens dropped in a looping ace to get things started before McIntyre pounded her second winner of the match. Shortly thereafter, Josie Lucernoni spun one of her own to help nail down a 10-6 lead heading into a GU timeout.
 
Looking for some more cushion, Sutton flashed a gentle touch with two straight tips, while Rock added a block and blast during a solid mid-set streak. Later, Miller took charge along the front line and collected two kills and a block to sustain a 22-19 lead. Looking to close things out, Rachel Close made a huge diving dig to keep the ball up before Sutton hit a screamer to the end line. McCann followed with a tip on the very next rally to earn set-point before a GU miscue helped give the Captains a 25-23 victory.
 
In the fourth, Gallaudet jumped out to a fast 4-0 lead before Christopher Newport clawed back. Highlighting an impressive defensive run, Rock posted a pair of blocks, while Evelyn Harper had a solid dig to keep a rally alive that ended in another kill by Sutton, which knotted the score at seven. Later, McIntyre added a pair of bullets before Miller unleashed an absolute laser that cut right through the defense to help grab a 15-12 lead heading into a Bison timeout.
 
The stoppage did nothing to hinder the Captains as Miller came back with a block and kill, while McIntyre smacked her third ace to take a six-point lead at 18-12. Fittingly, Sutton returned to wrap up her historic night with one final push. The third-year star chipped in with a block and three late kills to help set up one last defensive stand. Needing just two more points to close out the match, Rock and McCann teamed up on a block before Miller and McIntyre joined forces on another stop to clinch the 25-17 win.
 
Overall, the Captains finished with 11 team blocks, including four apiece by Miller and McCann. Meanwhile, Close was terrific on the back row as she pocketed 23 digs. Miller also excelled on the offensive end, unleashing 11 kills while hitting .320 against the Bison.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday when the squad hosts Lycoming at 7 p.m.
 
---CNU---