NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - Christopher Newport claimed its 18th conference title as they defeated top-seeded Salisbury in five sets to win the Coast-to-Coast Conference Championship. The Captains claimed their eighth conference title in the last 11 seasons.

First Set

In a tight opening frame, the teams were tied at 16-16 before CNU surged ahead with kills from Alli Pratt, Macy Burk, and Megan James. Down the stretch, Alyssa Dozier and Samantha Dorn delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the set 25-22, giving the Captains an early lead.

Second Set

Salisbury responded in the second, opening on an 8-1 run. Despite four kills from Dozier, the Sea Gulls pulled away late to even the match with a 25-13 victory.

Third Set

The Captains rebounded in the third, overcoming an early deficit with three quick points with kills from Megan James and Samantha Dorn before Dozier and Dorn teamed up for a block. Dozier paced the attack with five kills in the third set, helping CNU build a 19-16 lead. After a Salisbury push, Dorn and Burk each hit a kill before an ace from Phoebe Adams restored the lead for CNU. Dozier hit another kill and sealed the set 25-20.

Fourth Set

A marathon fourth set saw CNU jump out to a 7-3 lead, bolstered by two blocks from Pratt and kills from Dorn and Dozier. Pratt had five blocks in the fourth set. However, Salisbury fought back to tie the score at 24-24. Two late kills from Megan James kept the Captains in the game and the Captains later forced another set point, but Salisbury strung three points together to take the fourth set 32-30 and force a deciding fifth set.

Fifth Set

With the title on the line, Salisbury led 6-4 before CNU's front line took over. Pratt blocked three attacks and Samantha Dorn hit two clutch kills to give the Captains an 8-6 lead. Late kills from Dorn, Burk, and James pushed the score to 13-12. Dozier delivered the final two points to fend of a Salisbury run and clinch the championship with a 15-13 win.

News & Notes

• Alli Pratt was a force at the net, tallying 11 blocks (five solo), setting a Freeman Center record for single game solo blocks. She also tied for the second-most single game total blocks in program history.
• Samantha Dorn led the Captains with a season-best 19 kills, while Alyssa Dozier added 18 and James matched her season-high with 14 kills.
• Noelle Starr anchored the defense with a season-high 37 digs, while Kensie Price recorded a career-best 26 assists.
• Five Captains notched double-doubles. Alyssa Vitale had 30 assists, 14 digs; Megan James had 14 kills, 21 digs; Noelle Starr had 10 assists, 37 digs; Kensie Price had 26 assists, 12 digs; Alli Pratt had 10 kills, 11 blocks.

2024 C2C Volleyball All-Tournament Team

Christopher Newport
Samantha Dorn (MVP)
Noelle Starr
Megan James

Salisbury
Gwen Eustace
Kiley McTaggart

UC Santa Cruz
Kelly Ann Greene

Mary Washington
Chloe Crosen