NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Guided by an efficient offense, which produced a .406 team hitting percentage, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team stormed past Lycoming, 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-12), during a non-conference battle on Friday evening at the Freeman Center.
 
During the match, three Captains roped at least seven kills without a single attack error. Hannah Miller led the way with 11 kills on just 18 swings, while Maddie McCann roped eight on 13. Rounding out the squad's efficient attackers, Abby McIntyre posted seven kills on 13 attempts while adding a team-high 10 digs as well.
 
Also helping CNU's cause, Briana Sutton finished with 10 kills and eight digs, while Rachel Conway registered a team-high 26 assists. The Captains also roped 10 aces during the match, including two apiece by Sutton, Josie Lucernoni, Ashley Rock, and Madi Wickens.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport bumps its winning streak to 12 straight matches and improves to 24-2 on the season. The setback drops Lycoming to 17-10 overall.
 
At the beginning of the match, the Warriors got off to a hot start and grabbed a 10-6 edge before the Captains shot back with a sensational seven-point surge. Headlining the run, Rock smashed back-to-back aces, while Miller and McCann each added a pair of darts to snare a 13-10 advantage heading into an LC timeout.
 
Following the break, Christopher Newport continued to blister the opposition. Wickens joined in the fun from the service line with two straight aces, while McIntyre launched a pair of kills to push the lead to 19-12. With more than enough cushion, McIntyre continued her run with a kill and ace on back-to-back rallies before Sutton added the final punctuation mark with a rocket down the far sideline to ice the 25-17 victory.
 
The second set was similar to the first as the Warriors remained in step with the Captains early on before CNU pulled away. Breaking a 6-6 deadlock, McIntyre tooled an LC block attempt with a screaming dart that ricocheted into the visitors' bench. Shortly thereafter, Miller and Conway each posted a kill before joining forces on a block, while Lucernoni spun an ace to snatch a 16-11 advantage.
 
Although Lycoming cut its deficit down to three, McIntyre responded with a back-row rainbow that floated over the Warrior blockers before dropping gently into the center of the defense. Still rolling, McCann came through with two late kills, while Conway and Sutton unleashed aces to cap off the frame, 25-14.
 
Looking for a quick night, Sutton opened the third with two fast kills, including a laser that deflected over press row. Lucernoni also lined another ace during the early going, while Rock teamed up with Conway and McCann on a pair of blocks to nail down a 9-3 advantage. With all the momentum, McCann continued her outstanding evening with two more kills before Miller added back-to-back shots, including a dagger off a free ball to steal a 16-7 lead.
 
Flashing some defense as well, Evelyn Harper chipped in with two digs on one rally, including a beautiful sliding save from her knees that eventually led to a Lycoming miscue. Shortly thereafter, Katelyn Newsome blasted her first bullet of the match, marking her 10th consecutive swing that ended in a kill dating back to last Thursday. Although her streak was momentarily halted a few rallies later, the sophomore began a new run with her second blast of the evening to grab a 23-11 lead.
 
With little left to prove, Newsome teamed up with McCann on a block to earn match-point before Cat Boyle closed things out with the final kill to lock up the victory, 25-12.
 
Along with Conway's 26 assists, Tylar McGill added nine during the third set. Conway, McCann, and Rock all chipped in with two blocks as well, while Rachel Close collected nine digs on the back row.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday at noon when the Captains take on York (Pa.) in a Capital Athletic Conference match on Senior Day.
 
---CNU---