SALISBURY, Md. -- Hitting the road for the first time in over two weeks, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team picked up a key Capital Athletic Conference victory at Salisbury as the Captains upended the Sea Gulls, 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-18), on Friday evening at the Maggs Center.
 
During the bout, Katie Piper collected her fourth double-double of the year after unloading a match-high 11 kills while adding 14 digs. Megan O'Hara also excelled on both sides of the ball. The freshman played a role in five of the team's 11 blocks and clubbed seven kills while hitting at a .316 clip. Katelyn Newsome also had a hand in eight rejections as the Captains limited Salisbury to a miniscule .045 hitting percentage.
 
With the win, Christopher Newport improves to 16-3 on the season, including 3-0 in league action. The setback drops Salisbury to 12-7 overall and 1-2 in the CAC.
 
Continuing to shine in all facets of the game, Katie Crofford pumped eight kills, secured 11 digs, and crushed three aces. She also converted all 27 of her reception attempts. Meanwhile, Josie Lucernoni remained effective on the back row as the reigning CAC Player of the Week pocketed a team-high 20 digs while converting 21 of her 22 reception attempts.
 
After dropping the opening set on Friday, the Captains regrouped in the second. Abby Oren punched four kills on six swings during the stanza, while Crofford dropped in back-to-back aces during a four-point run late in the frame to nail down a 21-17 lead. Later, Piper came back with two late kills before an SU miscue handed the Captains a 25-23 triumph.
 
In the third stanza, CNU blew open the frame with a mid-set surge. Holding a slim 10-9 lead, Riley Garrison came through with two blocks and a kill, while Tiaralyn McBride smoked an ace to secure a commanding 21-13 advantage. Later, Garrison came back with another kill before O'Hara contributed a block and blast at the tail end of the set to lock up the 25-16 win.
 
Looking to put the match away in the fourth, Crofford knocked down a pair of early kills before Piper slammed back-to-back aces. Newsome and O'Hara also added a pair of solo blocks, while Crofford assisted on a rejection later in the frame to earn a 16-11 lead following a Salisbury timeout. Although the hosts managed to whittle their deficit back down to three, Garrison responded with two late kills before O'Hara added the final nail to collect the 25-18 triumph.
 
Tylar McGill led CNU with 15 assists while also chipping in with eight digs. Ashley Burgess dished out 14 helpers as well.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action tomorrow at noon when the squad continues league play at Wesley.
 
---CNU---