VIRGINIA BEACH -- One team extended a winning streak to four, while another had a four-match winning streak ended.

It all played out in the annual Hampton Roads volleyball showdown between rivals Christopher Newport University and Virginia Wesleyan College Tuesday at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.  CNU, which entered the match hours after jumping up to No. 9 in the national rankings, posted a 3-1 win in a match highlighted by unrelenting efforts by both squads.

CNU (15-1) broke away from a 14-all tie in the first set to score 10 unanswered points, helped by big plays at the net by Maddie McCann (Mathews/Mathews), Briana Sutton (Williamsburg/Jamestown), and Rachel Conway (Fairfax/W.T. Woodson) to post a 25-15 win.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-4) came back impressively in the second set as Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield), Madelyn McMurry (Springfield/West Springfield), and Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/William Campbell) came up with timely points that helped put the Marlins in control. VWC used an 8-2 run to open up a 16-8 lead and led by at least six points the rest of the way to a 25-18 decision.

The Marlins stayed within four points midway through the third game, before CNU gradually pulled away for a 25-16 final.  The Captains jumped out to a 17-9 lead in the fourth game, but VWC refused to fold. Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford) and Lambert took charge for the Marlins to pull VWC within a 23-20 score. But, CNU produced the next two points to take the set 25-20 to end the match.

Lambert put down 11 kills for the Marlins, tying CNU's Hannah Miller (Palmyra/Fluvanna County) for game-high honors.  Barrett finished with 10 for VWC, while McCann recorded the same number for the Captains.

Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) finished with 15 assists for the Marlins, who were led in digs by Marin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle) with 16.  Brooke Moore (Merritt Island, Fla./Bishop O'Connell, Va.) recorded 14 digs for CNU.

Virginia Wesleyan compete again on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, at the York College Spartan Invitational in York, Pennsylvania.  The Marlins take on Fairleigh Dickson University-Florham at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 9 p.m. showdown with host York.

--AMDG--