NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team picked up its third straight victory on Saturday afternoon as the Captains toppled Marymount, 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-19), during a Capital Athletic Conference battle at the Freeman Center.
 
Against the Saints, Josie Lucernoni was magnificent on the back row as the junior libero collected 22 digs. That marked the most by a Captain in a three-set bout since four-time All-American Abby Hogge pocketed 25 against UMass Boston on October 13, 2012. Meanwhile, Lucernoni also pieced together a perfect 9-for-9 effort on serve-receive, helping limit Marymount to just a pair of aces.
 
Along with Lucernoni, Ashley Burgess came through with her first collegiate double-double after collecting 19 assists and 12 digs. Additionally, Katie Piper pounded away along the front row and notched a team-high 13 kills, while Katelyn Newsome contributed seven on 13 swings.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 15-3 on the season, including 2-0 in league action. The setback drops Marymount to 7-8 overall with an 0-2 record in conference play.
 
Continuing to stifle opposing attacks, the Captains limited Marymount to an .041 hitting percentage during the match. Riley Garrison assisted on five rejections, while Abby Oren played a role in three. Newsome also tallied a pair of solo blocks to help keep the Saints on their heels.
 
In the first set, Christopher Newport blew open a modest lead with a six-point surge in the middle of the frame, headlined by Lucernoni's work at the service line and a block and blast by Newsome. Securing a double-digit lead at 20-10, the Captains eased into the victory. Garrison and Piper both pounded a pair of kills in the waning moments of the set to seal the 25-16 win.
 
Following the opening-set loss, Marymount kept the second frame close and eventually wiggled out to a 21-20 lead, but CNU regrouped. Megan O'Hara quickly knotted the score with a kill off a feed from Tylar McGill before Oren closed things out. Following a pair of Saint miscues, the freshman posted a block and kill on the final two rallies to clinch the 25-23 triumph.
 
In the third, the Captains controlled the set early. Piper carried the squad with five quick kills, including back-to-back shots that helped the hosts earn a 17-11 advantage. Although the visitors used a late rally to pull back within three, Oren flashed her late-game heroics again to ice the win. The freshman clocked a kill and teamed up with Garrison on a block to help lock up the 25-19 win.
 
Overall, Oren finished with nine kills against Marymount, while McGill contributed 18 assists. Katie Crofford also sniped a pair of aces and chipped in with eight digs to help pace the Captains. She was also a perfect 16-for-16 on serve-receive.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on October 6 when the squad heads to Salisbury for a 7 p.m. clash.
 
---CNU---