NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Junior Marin Crowder and senior Alex Lambert were both named to the Christopher Newport University Captains Classic all-tournament team after helping to lead Virginia Wesleyan College's volleyball Marlins to a 3-1 season start.

Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle) led the tournament field with 76 digs and a 5.85 digs per set average.  She recorded a high of 20 digs in a 3-0 win over North Carolina's Meredith College and matched that total in 3-0 win over New Hampshire's Keene St. University.

While Crowder helped to take care of matters deep on the court, Lambert was a force up front.  She finished with 55 kills, averaging 4.23 per set.  She opened with 18 kills against Meredith, followed with 16 against Keene St., and finished with 13 in a 3-1 win over Southern Virginia University.

It was a tournament of thrilling finishes for VWC, beginning with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 win over Meredith.  The Marlins suffered their only loss of the event in the second match, falling to Pennsylvania's Cabrini College, a 2013 NCAA qualifier, 25-23, 25-23, 25-13.  Virginia Wesleyan came back to knock off Keene St. 25-13, 25-23, 27-25, and closed with a 25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 28-26 decision over SVU.

Virginia Wesleyan produced 165 kills in the four-match event, led by Lambert's 55, 38 by sophomore Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford) and 25 from senior Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/Naruna William Campbell).  Barrett connected for a team-high 18 against SVU and Holbrooks recorded eight in the win over Meredith.

Junior Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) helped spark the offensive attack with 118 assists, averaging 9.08 per set.  She recorded 30+ assists in every match and finished with a high of 36 against Southern Virginia.

The Marlins recorded 25 aces overall, led by rookie Allison Mackley (Chesapeake/Portsmouth Christian) with six and Holbrooks with five. Sophomore Madelyn McMurry (Springfield/West Springfield) emerged as the team leader in total blocks with 12.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in a non-conference match at North Carolina Wesleyan College beginning at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--