NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Katelyn Newsome pieced together a solid effort on both sides of the ball as the senior helped carry the 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team to its eighth straight victory as CNU downed St. Mary's (Md.), 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-13), during a non-conference showdown on Wednesday evening at the Freeman Center.
 
During the contest, Newsome came through with a team-high nine kills and six blocks. She also posted a .412 hitting percentage against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Abby Oren also registered eight kills for the Captains, while Tylar McGill handed out 19 assists and picked up eight digs. Josie Lucernoni also pocketed a team-high 15 digs and was a perfect 14-for-14 on serve-receive.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 20-3 overall. The setback drops St. Mary's (Md.) to 3-19.
 
In the opening set, the Seahawks kept the Captains within striking distance during the early portion of the frame before CNU caught fire at the tail end of the stanza. Leading by one at 17-16, the hosts capitalized on three straight SMC miscues and a kill by Riley Garrison to snatch a 21-17 edge. Although St. Mary's managed a short response, McGill stung an ace, while Katie Piper contributed a block and blast to help lock up the 25-21 triumph.
 
In the second set, the Captains bolted out to a convincing 17-8 lead, including four kills by Abby Oren and a pair of aces by Tiaralyn McBride. Garrison and Kellyn DeChirico also teamed up on a block that put the visitors on their heels. Once again, St. Mary's managed a late response to pull back within three, but Christopher Newport never let its lead slip away. Newsome and Katie Crofford joined forces on a block and unloaded one kill apiece, while Piper punched an ace during a late surge that carried the hosts to a 25-16 win.
 
Battling back in the third set, St. Mary's wiggled out to a modest two-point lead at 9-7 before CNU retaliated. Newsome put the team on her shoulders with two blocks and a pair of kills during a seven-point surge that gave CNU a 14-10 lead. Later, the senior added two more darts, Ashley Burgess knocked down an ace, and Sam Plesce and Megan O'Hara added the clinching block to ice the 25-13 victory.
 
Holding St. Mary's (Md.) to a miniscule .038 hitting percentage during the match, Christopher Newport collected nine total blocks. In addition to Newsome's work along the net, Piper assisted on three rejections, while DeChirico and O'Hara helped out on a pair. Equally effective on the back row, Crofford finished the match with seven digs and a perfect 16-for-16 effort on serve-receive.
 
CNU will return to action on Friday when the squad hosts Southern Virginia at 6 p.m.
 
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