Top-seeded and two-time defending CAC champion Christopher Newport survived fourth-seeded St. Mary's in a thrilling match that stretch to five games, while second-seeded Salisbury edged third-seeded Mary Washington 3-1 in a pair of intense CAC volleyball semifinal matches on Thursday night. 

With the victories, CNU (28-2) will host Salisbury (24-7) on Saturday in the CAC Championship for the third straight season at the Freeman Center in Newport News, Va. Match time is to be determined. 

In Newport News, St. Mary's (17-13) gave CNU all it could handle, but the Captains outlasted the visiting Seahawks, 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 25-19, 27-29, 15-10). This marked the second straight year that these two squads went to five games in the semifinals. Abby McIntyre led the way for the Captains with a match-high 23 kills to go along with 10 digs. Maddie McCann also posted double-digit kills with 16, while Rachel Conway had 48 assists and 14 digs. Mimi Graf tallied a triple-double for St. Mary's with 11 kills, 24 assists and 18 digs, with Mandy Goodspeed notched 14 kills. 

In Salisbury, Md., host Salisbury defended its home court, defeating Mary Washington 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23), to advance to the CAC title match for the fifth straight season. Katie Stouffer's match-high 21 kills paced the SU attack, while Shannon Russell recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs and Rachel Pierson handed out 43 assists. For UMW (23-7), Rachel Hendricks notched 18 kills and Emma Olson had a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs.