VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Hours after climbing to 13th in the latest AVCA National Rankings, the Christopher Newport volleyball team pieced together one of its finest efforts of the season and capitalized on a brilliant performance by freshman setter Hope Webb to sweep Virginia Wesleyan, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-20), during a non-conference battle at the Batten Center.
 
During the contest, Webb posted her second double-double of the season with 34 assists and 13 digs. Putting her performance into perspective, no Captain had reached both of those totals in a three-set match since former All-American Jessie Heavenrich had 34 and 14 in her final collegiate appearance during the 2011 National Championship against Wittenberg.
 
Along with Webb, seniors Maddie McCann and Rachel Close were equally dominant. McCann drilled a match-high 14 kills, while Close excelled on the back row. The libero pocketed 18 digs, equaling her career-high for a three-set contest. She also was perfect on serve-receive after converting all 10 of her reception attempts.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 9-3 on the season. The setback drops Virginia Wesleyan to 5-8.
 
Early in the match, the hosts got off to a solid start and wiggled out to a modest 11-9 lead. Looking to respond, Rachel Blitt retaliated with back-to-back kills, including a scorcher through a VWC block attempt. Shortly thereafter, McCann and Hannah Miller teamed up to close off the far pin with a gorgeous rejection before a string of Marlin miscues gave CNU a 17-12 lead.
 
After a minor resurgence by Virginia Wesleyan, McCann fired back. The senior standout ripped three straight kills, including a pair that tattooed the VWC front row, to snatch a 20-15 lead. Later, Katie Piper pounded away with three kills of her own before Evelyn Harper closed out the first set with a perfectly-placed ace that caught the tape and spun to the court to lock up a 25-20 victory.
 
In the second stanza, Christopher Newport showed off its defense to grab an early edge. Close hit the floor to save a tough deflection off a CNU block attempt before Josie Lucernoni made a diving dig off a setter dump to keep another rally alive. Along with the back-row heroics, Webb connected with Piper for a pair of kills and dropped in a winner of her own to help nail down a 10-7 lead.
 
Although the Marlins managed to even the score behind a solid mid-set surge, the Captains continued to battle. Riley Garrison served up an ace, while Webb hit the hosts with another dump to slip out to a 16-15 edge. Later, Webb laced an ace, and McCann leveled the opposition with three kills in the span of four rallies to help secure a comfortable 22-16 lead.
 
With little left to prove, McCann added another laser before Garrison took on an attacker by herself and stoned a swing with a sensational solo block to seal the 25-20 triumph.
 
Looking to close out the match quickly, the Captains went right to work in the third. Blitt punched a pair of kills, while McCann lined a rocket that bounced off the out-stretched hands of two defenders and helped earn a 6-3 edge. Following a Virginia Wesleyan timeout, Garrison won a joust at the net for her second kill of the frame before the visitors capitalized on some finesse to extend their lead.
 
First, on the defensive end, Close slid across the court for a rally-saving dig before Garrison capitalized with a kill. Later, Garrison came back with a push shot that landed on the sideline, Miller tipped a winner over a block attempt, and Webb dropped in another floater off a pass from Katie Crofford to grab a 17-12 advantage.
 
After showing off a delicate touch to extend the lead, CNU flashed some power to put the game out-of-reach. McCann muscled a dagger to the back corner and Garrison dropped the hammer on an overpass. Moments later, Close went tumbling head-over-heels for a huge dig that McCann turned into another kill on the way to a 23-19 edge.
 
Closing in on the sweep, Miller elevated for a solo block to earn match-point before Webb returned for the clincher. Capping off her night, the freshman showed some flair with a behind-the-back dump after a sustained rally to close out the match with another 25-20 win.
 
Along with McCann's 14 kills, Garrison had nine and Blitt had eight. Harper also contributed 10 digs on the defensive end, while Lucernoni chipped in with eight and a 17-for-18 effort on serve-receive.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday for the start of the Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational. The Captains will open up with a pair of top-25 battles as CNU takes on No. 24 Millikin at 5 p.m. and No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater at 7 p.m.
 
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