NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind an electric offensive assault and a well-balanced defensive effort, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team posted a pair of impressive three-set victories on the first day of the Captains Classic as CNU toppled Meredith, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-22), before racing past Susquehanna, 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-17), on Friday evening at the Freeman Center.

Leading the attack, Briana Sutton pumped 28 kills while hitting at a .400 clip during the two matches. In the nightcap, she was nearly unstoppable as she drilled 18 kills on just 25 swings for a sizzling .640 hitting percentage.

Joining Sutton on the front line, Maddie McCann laced 20 kills, while Hannah Miller pumped 18 to go along with a team-best .516 hitting percentage. Miller also made her presence felt defensively, collecting 10 blocks, including a pair of solo rejections.

Helping balance out the attack, Rachel Conway was dominant throughout the day. The senior All-American averaged over 12 assists-per-set and helped the squad hit .323 during the two matches. She also collected 14 digs and spun three aces to round out a stellar day.

With the two victories, Christopher Newport improves to 3-0 on the season. The setbacks drop Susquehanna to 3-1 and Meredith to 1-2.

In the featured match on Friday evening, CNU and Susquehanna squared off in a battle of the unbeatens. Facing an experienced opponent coming off of a 30-9 campaign last season, Christopher Newport made an early statement on its home court. Sutton simply peppered the Crusaders with a relentless assault, smashing four kills in the first six rallies. Later, McCann and Miller each knocked home a pair of kills, while Conway laid in a picture-perfect floater to grab a 13-4 lead following an SU timeout.

After the offense gave CNU an imposing advantage, the defense stepped up to close out the opening set victory. Sutton made a gorgeous diving dig to keep a rally alive, while Miller was a wall along the net. The junior standout chimed in with three late blocks, including the clinching rejection on a perfect play as she and Sutton sealed off the far pin and sent back another SU attack to snatch the 25-14 victory.

With the offense and defense already in a rhythm, Christopher Newport showed off the team's serving prowess in the second. Kicking things off, Abby McIntyre laced a perfectly-placed dart to open things up before Conway slammed home a kill. Later, Conway took over at the line and unleashed a pair of aces, while McIntyre had a great cover on a quick hitter towards the back line, which led to a kill by Sutton. Eventually, the hosts rolled out to a 10-3 advantage heading into an SU timeout.

Following the stoppage, the Captains continued to serve the Crusaders a steady string of aces. Sutton and Ashley Rock both ripped winners before Miller came through with two kills and a block on the way to a 22-10 lead. Doing the dirty work on the defensive end, Conway, McIntyre, and Evelyn Harper all cleaned the court with diving digs to keep the Susquehanna attack in check before Conway added one final ace and Sutton sent back an overpass to clinch the 25-12 win.

Entering the third, Christopher Newport flashed some firepower early on. Sutton brought out the hammer, lining a kill that deflected into the stands before unloading another blast that sent an SU defender tumbling backwards after she got in the way of the ball. Joining in the fun, McCann took a solid feed from Rock and crushed a cross-court dagger before Miller and Eliza Fisher slammed the door with a huge block that gave the hosts a 17-12 lead.

Looking to close out the match quickly, McIntyre blistered an ace, Miller hammered home an overpass, and Sutton did the rest. Ending the match in style, the junior lined three late kills, including the clincher, to cap off the contest with a 25-17 victory in the third.

Overall, Christopher Newport hit .333 against the Crusaders and limited the opposition to an .018 mark. Defensively, McIntyre collected a team-high 11 digs and was flawless on serve-receive, converting all 13 of her opportunities. Rachel Close also was 10-for-10 on serve-receive to go along with eight digs, while Miller tallied four blocks. Fisher and Rock added three rejections apiece as well.

Hours before toppling Susquehanna, the Captains opened the day against a familiar foe. Facing Meredith, a longtime USA South rival, CNU engaged in a back-and-forth battle early on. Sutton rocketed four quick kills and McCann pumped three, but the two teams found themselves knotted at 11. Later, after the Avenging Angels broke the deadlock, Christopher Newport answered with a back-breaking rally.

McCann kicked off the mid-set surge with another bullet before Miller stepped up with a tremendous run. The reigning first-team All-American smoked a pair of kills and teamed with McCann on a block to give the hosts a 16-13 advantage. Although Meredith continued to battle, the Captains held them at bay and never relinquished their lead.

Miller continued her run with two kills and a block before Fisher added a solid punctuation mark. The sophomore faced a double block, and rather than going over or around it, she plastered a bullet off the defenders to grab a 22-17 lead entering a Meredith timeout. Although the Avenging Angels came out of the break and stole a rally, eventually, Miller and McIntyre added the final two kills to lock up the 25-20 victory.

In the second set, Sutton hit Meredith with a beautiful roll shot before Rock unloaded a kill and ace to gain an 8-6 advantage. Unfortunately, the Avenging Angels refused to go away and eventually grabbed a modest 11-10 lead. Unfazed, Miller and Rock both registered solo blocks, while Sutton added another dart on the way to a 13-10 advantage heading into an MC timeout.

The stoppage paid off briefly for the visitors as they knotted the game at 19, but the Captains would not be denied. Conway dropped in another rainbow before a slew of Meredith miscues and a pair of late blocks by Miller iced a 25-20 triumph.

Looking for an easier victory in the third, Christopher Newport vaulted out to an early lead and never trailed at any point during the set. Rock jumpstarted the rally with a block and blast before McCann fired three lasers. Later, Conway came through with one of her patented reverse kills and Sutton made the opposition pay for an overpass with a dagger to grab a 15-9 lead in the middle of the final stanza.

Continuing to push ahead, Madi Wickens served up an ace, while McCann added three kills and a block during a solid surge to grab a 23-14 advantage. Although Meredith responded and won eight of the next nine rallies, the comeback was too little, too late. Coming through with the final blow, Sutton took a feed from Conway and hammered a bullet through a defender to lock up the match with a 25-22 victory in the third.

Overall, CNU hit .314 against the Avenging Angels. McCann led the way with 12 kills and a .435 hitting percentage, while Miller collected nine kills on just 16 swings. Sutton finished with 10 kills as well, while Conway added her first double-double of the season with 38 assists and 10 digs. Close came through with 10 digs as well and converted 14 of her 15 reception attempts.

Christopher Newport will cap off the Captains Classic on Saturday with another twin bill. CNU will take on Hiram at noon before battling Bridgewater at 4 p.m.

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