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HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Cabrini's quest to score its first NCAA Volleyball Tournament victory fell just short today as the Cavaliers fell to Christopher Newport University 3-2 in the opening round of the national tournament.  The Blue and White close the program's most successful season with an overall record of 29-5.

The loss also closes the careers of Cabrini's four seniors, Danielle Carrozza, Michele Fitz, Kristy Riley and Sophia Sokolovich.  The group led the Blue and White to 94 career victories, including three Colonial States Athletic Conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

The ladies appeared in a combined 1,506 sets, recording 2,276 kills, 917 assists, 439 service aces and 4,096 digs.

The Cavaliers showed no fear as they took the court with the Captains, the only team in the entire tournament to reach the last two Final Fours.  Though Cabrini built an early 7-3 lead in the opening set, Christopher Newport rallied to tie the score at 12.  The set remained tight until the final minutes.  With the score tied at 19-19, Sokolovich served the Blue and White to a 25-19 win in the opener, giving Cabrini its first ever set win in the NCAA Tournament.

The Captains regained the match's momentum in the second set, as they built an early lead and forced Cabrini to play catch-up.  The Cavaliers kept the set close, but after leading 13-10, Christopher Newport tallied 12 of the next 15 points, en route to a 25-13 win in the second set.

The Blue and White took early control of the third set building an 8-0 lead.  The Captains did not let Cabrini get too far away, as they fought back to tie the score at 23.  The teams exchanged points until 25-25 when a Carrozza kill and a Christopher Newport attack error sealed the 27-25 victory for Cabrini.

The fourth set was a tightly contested affair that featured 13 lead changes and 12 ties.  Neither team built a lead of more than two points until the Captains scored six consecutive points to take a 21-16 lead.  The Cavaliers again rallied to tie the score at 23-23 before surrendering the set's final two points.

Primed for the upset, Cabrini took an early 3-1 lead in the fifth set before Christopher Newport fought back to take an 8-5 lead.  The Blue and White's deficit grew to as many as five points at 13-8 but the Cavaliers weren't quite ready to end the season.  Cabrini's comeback got as close as 13-12 before the Captains closed the match with the final two points.

Carrozza led the Cavaliers on the night with her 13th double-double of the season, pairing 20 kills and 17 digs.  Fitz added 11 kills and four blocks, while Sokolovich recorded a season high 27 digs.

Sophomore Cassidy Koenig posted 48 assists on the night, while Riley closed her career with five kills and nine digs.   

Harper Smith and Briana Sutton led the Captains (25-12) with 16 kills each.  Christopher Newport will face Eastern, who topped John Hopkins 3-o, in Saturday's second round match.   In Friday's late matches in the regional,  Stevenson downed Salisbury3-0, while the host Eagles defeated Gallaudet 3-1.  Stevenson and Juniata will also meet in Saturday's second regional semifinal.