FROSTBURG, Md. -- Four Captains posted double-digit kill totals as the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team capitalized on a well-balanced team effort to take down Frostburg State, 3-0 (25-20, 29-27, 25-21), during a Capital Athletic Conference bout on Saturday afternoon at the Bobcat Arena.
 
During the contest, Maddie McCann led CNU with 15 kills while hitting .382. Rounding out the front-row phenoms, Riley Garrison, Hannah Miller, and Katie Piper all pumped 11 kills for the Captains. Along with the hitters, Hope Webb dished out 42 assists, which marked the most by a Captain in a three-set match since 2014. Defensively, Rachel Close pocketed 18 digs and was masterful on serve-receive, converting all 19 of her attempts.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 15-4 overall and 2-0 in the CAC. The setback drops Frostburg State to 8-11 with an 0-2 mark in conference play.
 
From the outset, the two teams battled back-and-forth throughout much of the opening frame. McCann got her afternoon started by tattooing an FSU block attempt before Katie Crofford hit the opposition with a back-row blast. Piper also drilled a pair of early kills, but the Bobcats continued to scratch and claw on the way to a 16-16 deadlock.
 
Looking to string a rally together, Garrison took over. The freshman pumped a pair of kills, including one off an overpass following a bullet serve by Miller. She also rose up for a thunderous rejection in the middle of the front row during a six-point streak, which gave CNU a 22-16 edge. Later, Garrison teamed with Webb on another rejection before Close came through with a sliding dig to save a rally that McCann turned into a kill. One point away from the victory, Piper added the final nail after banging a shot off a blocker to lock up the 25-20 triumph.
 
With some momentum, Christopher Newport jumped out to a big lead in the second set. Miller, Garrison, and McCann all torched FSU block attempts before Piper dropped in three winners, including a roll shot, to snatch a 9-2 edge. Unfortunately, Frostburg State battled back. Piecing together a strong response, the hosts won four straight rallies and eventually pulled even at 16.
 
Back on even ground, Piper landed a cross-court dart and Miller hammered a kill through a seam in the front row to break the deadlock. Later, McCann caught fire. The senior dropped in five late kills to help secure set-point at 24-22. In a tough spot, the hosts managed to draw even again and kept the score tied until 27-27.
 
With little interest in continuing the seesaw affair, Miller pounded another dagger before an FSU miscue handed the Captains a 29-27 victory.
 
One set away from the sweep, CNU got off to another solid start in the third. McCann dropped in a floater, Piper left her mark on a back-row defender with an absolute screamer, and Miller landed a pair of kills of her own to notch a 6-3 edge. As they continued to do all day, the Bobcats fired back and managed to slip out to a 10-9 lead before a solid stretch in the middle of the stanza helped the Captains retaliate.
 
Taking over at the service line, Miller kept the hosts on their heels with a string of pinpoint serves, while Garrison drilled a quick hitter and McCann punched a hole in the block to grab a 16-11 lead on the way to a Frostburg State timeout.  Later, Garrison won a joust at the net for another kill, Webb landed a teardrop, and McCann tapped one over the block to grab a 22-19 advantage.
 
Easing towards the victory, Piper went cross-court to earn match-point before Garrison added the final punctuation mark with a looping rainbow to close out the contest with a 25-21 triumph.
 
Along with the well-balanced attack, Christopher Newport excelled on serve-receive throughout the contest. In addition to Close's efforts, Josie Lucernoni converted all 15 of her reception attempts, while Crofford and Evelyn Harper both went 13-for-13. Overall, the Captains did not surrender a single ace during the match.
 
CNU will return to action on Wednesday when the squad opens up a nine-match homestand against Wesley at 6 p.m.
 
---CNU---