NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Bridgewater College volleyball battled hard in five sets but could not overcome #24 Christopher Newport on October 2. Nadia Valle, Madison Haynes and Victoria Wilson all set new career highs in the contest.

Bridgewater came out with fire in the first set as Deja Booker earned the first three Eagle points on three kills. The team never relinquished the lead in a stellar first set that ended on another kill by Booker and gave the Eagles the advantage.

Coach Erin Harris' team came out strong again in the second with plenty of enthusiasm. Valle came alive on her way to a career night with five kills in the set. Bridgewater would gain a 2-0 advantage on a Rachel Gaston kill.

The Eagles competed hard in sets three and four but were narrowly edged by the Captains in both, setting up a deciding fifth set. This would be the team's fourth fifth set match of the season.

Bridgewater stayed energized heading into fifth and jumped out to a 5-2 lead thanks to kills from middle hitters Emily Hanger and Haynes. Strong serving from Christopher Newport brought them back into the set to tie the score at 9-9. This proved to be enough momentum for the Captains to ride out the win.

Gaston put down a match high 17 kills while adding 25 digs for her tenth double-double of the year. Valle was second on the team with 14 kills, a new career high for the freshman, followed by another career high from Haynes with 13 kills. Taylor McNeely picked up 23 digs and three service aces while Lindsay Olzawski contributed five blocks. Wilson established yet another career high for the Eagles with 53 assists.

Bridgewater is now 14-4 on the year. They return to action on October 5 with a home match against Averett at 7 p.m. The Eagles defeated the Cougars in five sets earlier this year at the Roanoke Maroon Classic.