NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - NCAA regional host Christopher Newport shook off an opening-set loss to Stevenson University to post a 3-1 win over the Mustangs in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Friday evening at the Freeman Center.  Set scores were 19-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-14.

• Stevenson (29-3) raced out to an early 5-2 lead following a CNU service error.
• Trailing 7-3, the Captains (27-8) reeled off four straight points to tie the set 7-7.
• The set was tied seven times between 7-7 and 18-18.
• Stevenson took control with five straight points capped by back-to-back Kayla Vaeth service aces.
• Back-to-back kills by Mackenzie Blevins and Katie Leftridge closed out the set. 

• The Mustangs trailed 7-6 following a solo block by Haley Hoover.
• Christopher Newport registered five straight points, including three straight service aces, to build a 12-6 lead.
• Stevenson chipped away and pulled within four, 21-17, following a service error by the Captains.
• The hosts scored the final four points of the set to even the match.

• Blevins had two kills, a block and a service ace as Stevenson opened on a 6-1 run to start the third.
• Trailing 9-5, the Captains used a 6-2 run to tie the set 11-11.
• A CNU service error and a block by Leftridge put the Mustangs back in front, 13-11.
• A Leftridge service ace followed by a Hoover kill upped the Mustang advantage to five, 17-12.
• Christopher Newport scored eight of the next 11 points to tie the set 20-20.
• A Blevins kill put the Mustangs in front 22-21, but the Captains scored the next two points.
• A CNU service error tied the set at 23.
• Back-to-back Mustang attack errors closed out the set and gave the Captains a 2-1 lead.

• After a Blevins service ace forged a 3-3 tie, the Captains scored the next three points to take a 6-3 lead.
• Stevenson cut the lead to one twice, the last time at 10-9 on a service ace by Caroline Dangel.
• CNU reeled off six straight points to take a 16-9 lead.
• The Mustangs scored the next point to make it 16-10, but the Captains posted the next three points to up its lead to 19-11.
• A kill by CNU's Katie Piper closed out the match.
• The Captains hit .480 in the final frame.

• Stevenson was making its ninth straight NCAA appearance.
• Christopher Newport hit .309 for the match, while the Mustangs hit .190.
• The Captains, who entered the match fourth in Division III in service aces, had 13 on the night, but 17 service errors.
• Stevenson racked up 10 aces, including four by Blevins.
• Blevins also hit .467 and had nine kills.
• Leftridge finished with eight kills and nine digs, while Shannon Baily posted seven kills.
• Victoria Prokic chipped in with six kills and three block assists.
• Vaeth had 16 digs in addition to three aces.
• Julie Nightwine finished with 13 assists, while Dangel added 12.