NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Catholic volleyball opened up the 2025 campaign at the Captains Classic hosted by Christopher Newport on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals took on the 21st-ranked host in the first game and Coast Guard in game two, falling in both contests. 

GAME 1 - #21 CNU 3, Catholic 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-12)

Senior middle Erin Faughnan was the top Cardinal in game one, totaling five kills on 12 swings, hitting .333 for the contest. Faughnan also added a solo block and a dig in the contest. Julia Raab totaled four kills in the match, adding two digs defensively while Juliette Cummings was a perfect two-for-two on attacks. 

Kate Berra and Anna Maria Carella rotated as setters, totaling seven and six assists respectively. Each also contributed three digs. Libero Tanya Sichling led Catholic with nine digs while freshman Alejandra Garcia chipped in with eight. 

Alyssa Dozier paced the Captains with 14 kills and two blocks, hitting .462 Avery Hanly and Megan James combined for 16 kills. 

GAME 2 - Coast Guard 3, Catholic 0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-18)

Raab led the offensive attack in game two, totaling nine kills on the night, hitting .194. She also chipped in with five digs and a block on defense. Laci Freitas added seven kills and Faughnan had four kills and five blocks for the Cardinals. 

Berra and Carella rotated once again, handing out 15 and nine assists. Carella logged the lone service ace of the day for Catholic. Garcia led the team with 13 digs in match two while Carella and Berra chipped in with nine and seven respectively. 

The Cardinals nearly took their first set of the season, losing a heartbreaking second set 28-26 after taking a 26-25 lead on a Raab kill. Coast Guard would score the final three points to take the set. Catholic led 22-17 after a ball-handling error, but four straight points pulled the Bears back within one. Coast Guard led 24-23 before Raab scored three of the next four to give Catholic the 26-25 advantage. 

Catholic will once again compete at the Captains Classic tomorrow afternoon, taking on #2 Wisconsin-Whitewater at 3 p.m.