NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After playing No. 2 Wisconsin-Whitewater practically even through the first two sets, Christopher Newport University wasn't able to pull off the upset in the Captains Classic Friday night. Senior outside hitter Megan James had eight kills, and freshmen Lauren Hobbs and Fielding Croft combined for 23 assists. But playing a few hours after defeating Catholic University of America, 3-0, the Captains ended up on the other end of that score against the Warhawks.
 
CNU will return to the court tomorrow at 1 p.m. against the United States Coast Guard Academy in the Freeman Center.
 
In the first set, after four lead changes, CNU tied the score at 20 on a Whitewater service error. But the Warhawks scored five of the last seven points to take the first set 25-22. Neither team broke .200 in hitting percentage in the first set, but Wisconsin-Whitewater had 16 kills to CNU's eight.
 
The second set provided six lead changes and 13 ties, the last one coming at 23-all. After calling a timeout, the Warhawks got back-to-back kills to take the second set 25-23. In the third set, CNU trailed 11-9. But from there, Whitewater scored 14 of the next 17 points. Alyssa Dozier finished with six kills and two blocks.
 
In the opener, CNU was crisp in a three-set sweep (25-13, 25-13, 25-12) of the Cardinals. Dozier had 14 kills on a .462 hitting percentage along with a pair of solo blocks for 16.5 points. Avery Hanly had nine kills (.375) and James seven.
 
A question coming into the season was the youth at setter. But Croft and Hobbs had outstanding debuts with 19 and 14 assists, respectively. Croft also had seven digs. Libero Maddie Hanes had five assists along with 10 digs and a service ace. The Captains had 10 aces, including four by Samantha Dorn.
 
The first set was tied 2-2 when the Captains reeled off six consecutive points (five on Hanly's serve) to take control. CNU won six of the set's final seven points and secured the 25^th point on a kill by Phoebe Adams.
 
In the second, the Captains stretched a 9-6 edge to a 16-7. Hanly had two service aces in that run and closed the set with a kill. The third set featured a 10-1 CNU run sparked by Dorn's three service aces to take a 16-7 lead. Dorn finished the win with her fifth kill.
 
CNU rounded out the opener with a .326 hitting percentage, which it bettered only once last season (.371 vs. Mary Washington on Oct. 12).