NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Senior Hannah Miller became the 10th member of the program's exclusive 1000-kill club, and the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team capitalized on her historic efforts to post a pair of sweeps on Friday evening as the Captains toppled Averett, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-19), and Scranton, 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-19), on the first day of the CNU Invitational at the Freeman Center.
 
Entering the day just 22 kills shy of 1000 for her career, Miller hit that number exactly as the two-time All-American unloaded 22 blasts while hitting at a sizzling .594 clip. In terms of attack attempts, she became the fastest player in program history to reach the 1000-kill plateau. It took her 2,285 career swings to reach 1000 kills, beating Bailey Jensen's previous record of 2,396 set from 2009-12.
 
With Miller joining the club, four of the 10 Captains to reach 1000 career kills are still with the program. Fellow senior Briana Sutton was the last player to reach the mark after joining the club last season, while coaches Lindsay Birch and Cory Harris also accomplished the feat during their decorated playing careers.
 
In addition to Miller's exploits, Maddie McCann also drilled 22 kills and hit .409, while Katie Piper unleashed 15 blasts on Friday. Along with the hitters, Tylar McGill chipped in with a team-high 43 assists, while Rachel Close collected 24 digs. Miller and Riley Garrison also excelled on the defensive end with 10 blocks apiece.
 
With the two victories, Christopher Newport improves to 6-3 on the season. Averett is now 7-4, while Scranton is 7-6.
 
In Friday's opener against Averett, the former USA South foes battled back-and-forth early in the first set. Miller got the festivities started with a block and three quick kills. Later, McCann headlined a four-point streak with a block and blast before saving another long rally with an off-balance dart to snatch a 15-12 lead following an AU timeout.
 
Looking to extend their advantage, the Captains turned to their freshmen late in the frame. Piper pumped a pair of kills, while Garrison and Katie Crofford each added winners on the way to a 23-19 advantage. Still rolling, Hope Webb smacked an ace to earn set-point before Piper pin-balled a shot off two defenders to ice the stanza, 25-20.
 
In the second frame, Garrison carried the Captains in the early going. First, she found success along the net with back-to-back blocks. Later, she took over at the service line and put on a clinic. Spreading the pain across the Averett back row, she blistered a pair of aces off two different defenders and kept the Cougars on their heels with pinpoint precision during a five-point streak, which gave the hosts a 12-9 advantage.
 
Later, Miller came back with two more kills, McGill lined an ace, and Katelyn Newsome clubbed a shot to headline a 5-1 run in the middle of the stanza, which gave CNU a 17-11 lead heading into an AU timeout.
 
Although the Cougars capitalized on the stoppage and clawed back within two, the Captains quickly retaliated. McCann painted the sideline with a cross-court screamer before Miller slammed the door with two late kills, including an out-stretched tip that dropped to the floor to lock up the victory, 25-22.
 
One set away from a sweep, Christopher Newport went to work early in the third. McCann laced three fast kills, while Josie Lucernoni headlined an outstanding defensive effort with several sprawling digs on the way to an 8-6 lead. Shortly thereafter, Newsome skied for a punishing blast off the head of a blocker before McCann unleashed a roll shot that helped push the advantage to 15-11.
 
Although Averett managed to pull back within one at 17-16, CNU whistled for a timeout and regrouped. Following the stoppage, the front row suffocated the AU attack. Newsome teamed up with Miller and Garrison on a pair of blocks, while McCann sent one back herself to snare a 23-17 lead. Fittingly, Newsome came back with a kill to earn match-point before Garrison and McCann closed off the far pin for another stunning rejection to wrap up the contest with a 25-19 triumph.
 
Overall, Miller finished the match with 13 kills on 19 swings, while McCann had 12 on 20. McGill also contributed 26 assists, Webb notched 16 helpers, and Close pocketed 12 digs.
 
Following a break in the action, Christopher Newport returned to the court for a night match against Scranton. Although the two teams battled back and forth in the early going, the Captains toyed with the Scranton front row. Newsome tipped a shot over two blockers before McCann pumped one right through a pair of Royals. Later, Newsome rattled a rocket off another player's dome to help secure a modest 16-13 lead.
 
Hoping to stretch their advantage, the CNU freshmen went to work again. Garrison dropped a kill on Scranton before Piper put on a highlight-reel performance. Flashing her power, she drilled a kill that bounced deep into the bowels of the stadium before another shot ricocheted into the stands. Shortly thereafter, she rose up and sent a screamer off the 10-foot line to nail down a 22-16 edge.
 
With more than enough cushion, Miller added a block and blast during the waning moments of the set before McGill laced an ace, which sealed the 25-18 win.
 
In the second stanza, Christopher Newport capitalized on another outstanding defensive effort to pull out to an early lead. Miller and McCann assisted on a pair of blocks, while Newsome and Garrison also played a role in two rejections to steal a 9-5 lead. Just as effective on the offensive end, Piper painted the corner with a dart and Garrison lined back-to-back aces during a seven-point surge, which gave the hosts a 16-8 edge.
 
Although the Royals momentarily halted CNU's run, the Captains rebounded quickly. Eventually, the team pieced together another seven-point streak, including two blocks and a kill by Kellyn DeChirico, to cap off the frame, 25-10.
 
Looking to close out their second straight sweep, the Captains looked sharp early in the third. Miller inched closer to her 1000th kill with two early blasts, while Garrison recorded a pair of blocks and unloaded on a quick hitter following a beautiful touch pass by Webb to grab a 12-7 lead. Moments later, Miller made history.
 
During a mid-set surge, the senior unleashed back-to-back kills, including her 1000th in typical fashion. Off a feed from McGill, she dropped the hammer and dented the hardwood with a scorcher that painted the far sideline and gave the Captains a 15-9 advantage heading into a Scranton timeout.
 
The stoppage did nothing to slow the hosts as Newsome came back with two kills and a block, while Garrison also teamed up on a pair of rejections to grab a 21-12 lead. Closing in on the victory, Piper tooled the block and Garrison added her fifth kill to nail down match-point. After the Royals hung around for a few more rallies, Webb lofted an assist to Rachel Blitt, who pounded a hard shot into the center of the defense to cap off the 25-19 triumph.
 
McCann finished the contest with 10 kills and eight digs. She also was a perfect 16-for-16 on serve-receive. Miller stuffed the stat sheet as well with nine kills and seven blocks, while Lucernoni, McGill, and Garrison all had a pair of aces. Close anchored the back row with 12 digs and flawlessly converted all 17 of her reception attempts.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday with rematches against Averett and Scranton on the final day of the CNU Invitational. Action gets underway at noon.
 
---CNU---