Courtesy of CNU Athletic Communications

Newport News, Va. - Christopher Newport bounced back from a 1-0 hole to defeat Stevenson University 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-15) in an NCAA Regional Quarterfinal contest in the Freeman Center. The Captains advance to play Marymount on Saturday in a semifinal match at 5 p.m. The Captains have played the Saints twice this year, defeating them 3-0 and 3-1. The loss is just the third loss of the season for the Mustangs, who end the year 29-3 while CNU improves to 27-8.

In other regional action from the Freeman Center, Juniata defeated Virginia Wesleyan 3-2, Trinity beat Hunter 3-1, and Marymount upended Randolph-Macon 3-1. Juniata will face Trinity on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the other semifinal matchup.

The first set was heavily contested throughout the first 36 points with the score tied at 18-18 with the lead no more than two for most of the way. After the Captains tied it at 18-18, a CNU service error sparked a 5-0 run out of the Mustangs with the next two points coming off unforced Christopher Newport attack errors followed by consecutive service aces. The Captains answered on the next play with a Mackenzie Wright kill, but it would prove futile in halting momentum as Stevenson ended the set with consecutive kills to go up 1-0.

The Mustangs briefly carried the momentum right into the second frame as they went ahead 3-0, but the Captains quickly turned things around, winning four of the next five points to tie it at 4-4, highlighted bu 1.5 points from Megan O'Hara via a kill and an assisted block.  A service error briefly gave the Mustangs the lead on the next play, but three of the ensuing four points went the way of CNU to lead 7-6. Christopher Newport proceeded to erupt for five straight points with Katie Crofford capping the run with three consecutive aces. Marymount was able to stay within four at 21-17, but a service error followed by a pair of Katie Piper aces and a Mackenzie Wright kill lifted CNU to a second set victory.

Stevenson raced out to a 6-1 advantage in the match's third game, and the Captains gradually chipped away at the lead to tie it up at 11-11. The CNU momentum came to a halt from there as the Mustangs utilized a 6-1 spurt to push ahead by five points, 17-12. The Captains once again began to cut away at the lead and knotted the set again at 20-20. Stevenson secured two of the next three points to regain a one-point lead at 22-21, but consecutive kills from Crofford and Riley Garrison put CNU in the driver's seat at 23-22. The Captains turned the serve back over to Stevenson on a service error, but consecutive attack errors by Stevenson put the Captains in the lead 2-1.

The fourth set was close early with CNU holding a narrow 10-9 advantage, but CNU took a commanding lead after that as they scored the next six points, all via kills or service aces, to go up 16-9. Stevenson would never recover and trailed by at least six the remainder of the set with Piper ending the night on a kill assisted by Sammy Carroll.

Katie Crofford posted a massive double-double with 23 digs, 11 kills, and four aces. Katie Piper recorded 19.5 points with 16 kills, three aces, one block, and nine digs. Sammy Carroll distributed 43 assists along with an ace, two blocks, and four digs. Mackenzie Wright added 10 kills and two blocks while Megan O'Hara contributed eight kills and a block. Riley Garrison added six kills and two blocks. Kayleigh Reagan-Smith tallied three aces and five digs.

Mackenzie Blevins led the Mustangs with nine kills, four aces, and two blocks while Katie Leftridge totaled eight kills, an ace, two blocks, and nine digs. Julie Nightwine and Caroline Dangel combined for 25 assists.