NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Hours after jumping up two spots in the latest AVCA National Coaches Poll, the 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team picked up its 13th victory of the season as the Captains toppled Virginia Wesleyan, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18), during a non-conference battle on Tuesday evening at the Freeman Center.
Against the Marlins,
Katie Crofford pieced together a well-rounded performance, including a match-high six aces. With that effort, the sophomore equaled the second-most aces by a Captain in a three-set contest since the NCAA switched to 25-point sets in 2008. Former teammate
Rachel Close was the last Captain to accomplish that feat after drilling six winners against Penn State Harrisburg in 2014.
In addition to her work at the service line, Crofford also popped eight kills and added eight digs. Meanwhile,
Abby Oren also drilled eight kills for CNU, while
Riley Garrison punched five on 12 attempts. Helping balance out the attack,
Ashley Burgess and
Tylar McGill chipped in with 15 assists apiece.
With the win, Christopher Newport improves to 13-3 on the season. Virginia Wesleyan falls to 8-6.
Along with the squad's offensive efforts,
Josie Lucernoni plucked 18 digs, which marked the most in a three-set match this season. Meanwhile, on the front row,
Katelyn Newsome assisted on three blocks, while Garrison and
Megan O'Hara helped out on a pair of rejections. Overall, CNU finished with five team blocks, which helped limit Virginia Wesleyan to an .076 hitting percentage.
In the first set, Oren dropped in five of her eight kills and slung a pair of aces. Although Virginia Wesleyan battled back from a late four-point deficit to tie the score at 22, O'Hara closed out the frame. The freshman ripped a kill and teamed up with Newsome on a block to earn set-point. On the very next rally, an error by the Marlins sealed the 25-22 victory.
Retaliating in the second frame, the visitors snuck out to a small 8-7 advantage before the Captains took control. Christopher Newport won 12 of the next 15 rallies, including three kills by Crofford and an ace by Lucernoni. Although Virginia Wesleyan managed to keep the score close over the waning moments of the set, O'Hara, Newsome, and
Katie Piper dropped in late blasts to lock up the 25-19 triumph.
Looking to close out the match quickly, CNU vaulted out to a fast 5-1 lead behind a pair of aces by Crofford. Later, the hosts pieced together a mid-set surge to keep the pressure on the Marlins and snatch a 23-13 edge. Although VWU responded and staved off the inevitable with a five-point run, Oren and Garrison pounded back-to-back kills to close out the match with a 25-18 win.
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. when the Captains kick off Capital Athletic Conference action with a bout against St. Mary's (Md.) at the Freeman Center.
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