LEXINGTON, Va. -- In a match for the ages, Briana Sutton and Rachel Conway both contributed historic efforts, but the second-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team could not quite complete its comeback bid against fourth-ranked Emory as the Captains dropped a grueling five-setter to the Eagles, 3-2 (27-25,25-22,19-25,22-25,15-9), on Friday evening at Washington & Lee's Doremus Gymnasium.
 
Despite the setback, Sutton and Conway shined under the bright lights. Sutton roped a career-high 28 kills, which also stands as the eighth-highest total in program history and the finest performance by a Captain since the NCAA switched to 25-point sets. As efficient as she was effective, she hit .388 against the Eagles and added a career-high 15 digs on the defensive end.
 
Helping facilitate Sutton's historic effort, Conway dished out 62 assists, marking the seventh-highest single-match total in program history. It also stands as the most by a Captain in 14 years. The previous high for a single match during the rally-scoring era was 58 established by Jessie Heavenrich in 2010 and equaled by Conway against St. Benedict earlier this season.
 
Along with the history-makers, CNU received tremendous efforts for a slew of other players. Ashley Rock contributed a career-high 11 kills while hitting .429. Abby McIntyre also came through with a double-double after tallying 13 digs and 10 kills, while Hannah Miller unleashed 13 blasts as well.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 12-2 on the season, while Emory moves to 13-2.
 
Showing incredible heart throughout the match, the Captains dropped the first two frames but never wavered. Needing a spark in the third, McIntyre spun an ace to get things rolling before Sutton leveled the opposition with five kills during the span of eight rallies. Later, Rock helped cap off the early surge with an ace and kill to snatch a 10-6 advantage heading into an Emory timeout.
 
The stoppage did little to swing the momentum as Miller and Maddie McCann joined forces on a block, while Conway smashed back-to-back aces on the way to a 16-10 edge and another EU timeout. With the opposition reeling, McIntyre slammed home a pair of kills, while McCann and Miller each added a dart of their own to secure a 23-13 lead.
 
Although Emory was able to steal four straight rallies, McIntyre and Miller chipped in with two late kills to ice the third frame, 25-19.
 
With new life, the Captains used the momentum to grab another solid lead in the fourth. Rock was nothing short of sensational during the early going as she clubbed three kills and added a pair of blocks on the way to an 8-4 edge. Although Emory was able to battle back and grab a modest 12-11 advantage, CNU turned back to Sutton to silence the resurgence. On three straight rallies, she pummeled EU with three kills to give the squad a lead it would never relinquish.
 
Following an Emory timeout, Sutton added another kill, Miller and McIntyre hit back-to-back rockets, and Evelyn Harper spun an ace to push the lead to 21-17. With enough breathing room, Sutton helped close out the frame with two late kills, including the clincher, to lock up a 25-22 victory.
 
After battling back to force a fifth frame, CNU hit a rough patch early in the final stanza. Although Sutton and McIntyre came through with quick kills, the Captains found themselves staring at a 9-3 deficit. Looking to turn the tide, Miller and McIntyre came through with a block and McCann added a bullet to pull within five at 11-6.
 
Later, Miller clocked the Eagles with two more kills and Sutton added her 28th of the game to chip away at the deficit and climb within four at 13-9. Unfortunately, EU had enough left in the tank to overcome the late stumbles as the Eagles registered back-to-back kills to close out the match with a 15-9 win in the fifth.
 
Along with Sutton and McIntyre's double-doubles, two other Captains also registered double-digit dig efforts. Rachel Close scooped up 19, while Harper chipped in with 13. Harper and Sutton also combined on a flawless 44-for-44 effort on serve-receive, while McIntyre converted 43 of her 44 opportunities. Overall, CNU allowed just two aces against Emory.
 
Early in the match, the two teams battled back-and-forth in a sign of things to come. Although Emory pulled out to a 13-9 advantage in the first frame, CNU used a huge mid-set surge to flip the script. Sutton lit up EU with two kills before the squad flashed its serving prowess. Close blistered back-to-back aces before Conway spun one of her own to help take a 16-14 lead.
 
Although the Eagles retaliated and eventually took an identical two-point advantage, Christopher Newport called for a timeout and regrouped. Following the break, McCann and Miller pumped two straight kills, while McIntyre and Sutton also added winners to take a 23-22 edge. Later, another blast by Sutton and a block by McCann and Rock gave the Captains set-point at 25-24, but the Eagles were able to steal the final three points to win the first, 27-25.
 
The seesaw affair continued in the second as Sutton hit Emory with four early kills, while Rock and Miller added a pair apiece on the way to an 11-11 deadlock. Later, after the two teams remained tied at 16, Emory inched ahead and took a 21-17 lead heading into CNU's second timeout of the frame.
 
With a solid push, Sutton unleashed three kills, Miller added one, and Conway roped an ace to pull within one at 22-21. Unfortunately, the Eagles were able to hold off the late charge and squeaked out a 25-22 victory, which set up CNU's epic resurgence and EU's fifth-set heroics.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport hit .267 during the match, while Emory posted a .360 attack percentage. Meanwhile, Rock and McCann tied for the team-lead with four blocks apiece, and Miller and McIntyre added three each. Conway led the squad with four aces as well.
 
CNU will return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader in Lexington. The Captains will take on Randolph-Macon at 11 a.m. before battling Washington & Lee at 3 p.m.
 
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