The No. 23 nationally ranked Batten University women's volleyball team (15-3) defended its home court, defeating cross-bay rival Christopher Newport University (12-6), 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 25-14), inside TowneBank Arena.
Anna Moody led the Marlins with a match-high 20 kills while hitting an impressive .500, committing just three errors on 34 attempts. Hannah Smith added 17 kills, 12 digs, and two service aces, while Elizabeth York contributed six kills on a .400 hitting percentage and four block assists.
Batten finished the evening with 53 kills, 10 service aces, and 64 digs, holding the Captains to a .183 hitting percentage.
How It Happened
Set One: Batten 25, Christopher Newport 18
The Marlins wasted little time establishing momentum, jumping out to a 9-4 advantage behind an aggressive offensive attack. Christopher Newport responded with five consecutive points to even the score at 9-9, but Batten quickly regained control.
With the score tied at 10, the Marlins put together a 4-0 stretch highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Maelyn Thams and a kill from Smith to build a 14-10 advantage.
Batten continued to maintain separation throughout the remainder of the set before closing on a 4-0 run. A service ace from Valerie Nolan, a block from York and Aajah Vazquez, and a final kill from Maddie Thompson secured the 25-18 opening-set victory.
Set Two: Batten 25, Christopher Newport 22
The second set featured a much tighter battle, with both teams exchanging momentum throughout the frame. Christopher Newport established an early 8-5 advantage before the Marlins battled back to even the score at 8-8.
Trailing 16-14 midway through the set, Batten rattled off three consecutive points behind kills from Nolan and back-to-back finishes from York to take a 17-16 lead.
Neither team could establish much separation down the stretch, as the Captains briefly reclaimed a 22-21 advantage. However, the Marlins delivered when it mattered most.
Moody recorded a kill to give Batten a 23-22 lead before Smith followed with a service ace. Moody then delivered the set-winning kill, completing a 4-0 closing run and sending the Marlins into the break with a commanding 2-0 match advantage.
Set Three: Christopher Newport 25, Batten 23
The Captains opened the third set with renewed energy, racing out to a 6-1 advantage and eventually extending their lead to 15-9.
Batten refused to go away, gradually cutting into the deficit behind timely kills from Moody and Smith. A service ace from Kathryn Liles and a combined block from York, Vazquez, and Nolan helped the Marlins erase the deficit and tie the set at 17-17.
Christopher Newport regained a 24-21 advantage, but Batten fought off two set points before the Captains secured the 25-23 victory to extend the match.
Set Four: Batten 25, Christopher Newport 14
Determined to put the match away, the Marlins delivered their strongest response of the evening, dominating the fourth set.
With the score tied at 3-3, Batten erupted for five consecutive points behind kills from Smith, Vazquez, and Nolan, along with a service ace from Thams, to establish an 8-3 advantage.
The Marlins continued to pour on the pressure, using another 5-0 run to extend their lead to 14-5. Nolan highlighted the stretch with a service ace, while Smith added two kills.
Batten's advantage eventually grew to 17-6 as the Marlins controlled the pace of play. Christopher Newport managed to cut the deficit to six at 18-12, but Batten responded by scoring seven of the final nine points.
A kill from York and consecutive Captain attacking errors sealed the 25-14 victory, giving the Marlins the four-set rivalry win.
Batten hit an impressive .321 in the final set while holding Christopher Newport to a negative .094 hitting percentage.
