MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team capped off a perfect run through the Capital Athletic Conference after toppling Penn State Harrisburg, 3-1 (23-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-19), at the Capital Union Building before wrapping up the regular season with a non-conference triumph at Messiah, 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-19), at the Brubaker Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.
 
During the two matches, Katie Piper led the Captains with 21 kills, while Katie Crofford added 16 to go along with a .424 hitting percentage. On the other side of the ball, Allie Plumlee picked up a team-high 34 digs. Tylar McGill also secured 11 to go along with 38 assists and four aces during a well-rounded afternoon.
 
With the two victories, the Captains conclude the regular season with a 25-3 record, including a 9-0 mark in league play. Meanwhile, Penn State Harrisburg ends the year with a 10-17 mark and a 1-8 ledger in the CAC, while Messiah is 14-16 overall.
 
In the opener on Saturday, Plumlee collected a career-high 17 digs against the Lions while anchoring the back row. Piper also came through with 11 digs and a team-high nine kills. Equally effective on both sides of the ball, McGill handed out 17 assists and notched seven digs. The senior setter also smoked three aces during the four-set triumph.
 
Along with McGill's work at the service line, Piper, Crofford, and Tiaralyn McBride all clocked a pair of aces. Ashley Burgess also punched one of the team's 10 winners and chipped in with 13 assists. Rounding out the team leaders, Megan O'Hara had five blocks, including a solo stop, while Riley Garrison drilled six kills on only 14 swings.
 
In the nightcap against Messiah, Piper came through with her seventh double-double of the season after totaling 12 kills and 13 digs. Burgess also starred with her third double-double after notching 11 assists and 10 digs. Meanwhile, Plumlee continued to shine on the back row as the freshman added another 17-dig showcase during the victory over the Falcons.
 
Equally effective in the regular season finale, Crofford chipped in with 11 kills and a .455 hitting percentage, while Abby Oren smacked seven blasts. Helping balance out the attack, McGill came through with a match-high 21 assists. Less than 24 hours after a 12-block assault against York (Pa.), Garrison also remained lethal along the net with five more rejections, including three solo stops.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Captains host a CAC semifinal bout at the Freeman Center.
 
---CNU---