Christopher Newport University

2016 - Senior Season - Cemented her spot as one of the top liberos in program history with one final tremendous campaign … Earned first-team All-State accolades for her effots ... Saw action in 34 matches and a team-high 120 sets … Pocketed 508 digs during the year, which not only ranked second in the CAC but also marked the ninth-highest single-season total in program history … Finished the year with a 4.34 digs-per-set average … Pocketed at least 10 digs in 30 of her 34 appearances, including a run of 17 straight to open the year … That streak marked the longest stretch of double-digit dig efforts in program history, smashing the previous record of 12 … Also secured six 20-dig matches, including a career-best 30 against No. 4 Southwestern on October 15 … That marked the 17th 30-dig match in program history ... Honored as the Captains Classic Most Valuable Player after averaging 5.31 digs-per-set during the four matches, including a 24-dig outing against Stevenson on September 2 ... Helped stabilize the serve-receive unit as well, which compiled a .935 reception percentage - marking the team’s highest rate since 2012 … Was perfect on 48 reception attempts during the last two rounds of the CAC Tournament, including a flawless 28-for-28 effort at Salisbury in the semifinals on November 3 … Established a career-high with 48 reception attempts against Salisbury during the regular season on October 7 as well … Also dished out 91 assists and stung 14 aces during the year … Had seven helpers in the NCAA Tournament against Johns Hopkins on November 11 and posted a season-high three aces at No. 2 Juniata on September 9.

2015 - Junior Season - Anchored the back row while appearing in 32 matches as the team’s libero … Led the Captains and finished fourth in the conference with 455 digs … Registered at least 10 digs on 24 occasions and eclipsed 20 five times … Pocketed a season-high 29 digs against St. Benedict on September 11 … Added 23 more during a four-set victory against No. 12 Eastern the following day … Secured 19 digs against No. 4 Emory on September 25 … Had 20 in back-to-back matches at St. Mary’s (Md.) on October 18 and at Gallaudet on October 20 … Finished the season with a phenomenal run that included seven consecutive double-digit dig efforts … Notched 24 in the regular season finale at Marymount on October 31 and capped off the season with 22 more against Randolph-Macon in the NCAA Tournament on November 14 … Collected her 1000th career dig against the Yellow Jackets, becoming the eighth junior in program history to reach that milestone … Also helped lead the team on serve-receive with a .939 reception percentage … Finished third on the team with 36 aces as well, including four against Wesley on October 28 … Pumped at least two aces in 10 matches during the year.

2014 - Sophomore Season - Excelled as a defensive specialist during the year and appeared in 37 matches while earning 12 starts … Averaged 1.60 digs-per-set and eventually pocketed 200 during her time on the court … Registered five double-digit dig efforts, including a pair in back-to-back matches during an outstanding postseason run … Collected 14 digs against Stevenson during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on November 15 … Followed that with 13 digs and a pair of aces during the Regional finals against Eastern on November 16 … Picked up a season-high 15 digs against Randolph-Macon on September 6 … Also excelled  in contests against nationally-ranked competition after securing 10 digs against No. 7 Mount Union on September 13 and again versus No. 11 Colorado College on October 3 … Did solid work on serve-receive as well, compiling a .942 reception percentage during the year … Converted 48 straight reception attempts from September 30 - October 4 … Also pumped 13 aces, including six against Penn St. Harrisburg on October 18 … That total marked the most by a Captain since 2010 … Contributed 32 assists during the year as well.

2013 - Freshman Season - Saw action in 34 matches and 109 sets during her first campaign … Ranked second on the squad with 350 digs but led the way with a 3.21 digs-per-set average … Also compiled a .931 reception percentage while helping anchor the back row … Excelled as the libero early in the season and earned Washington & Lee All-Tournament honors … Posted 40 digs and ripped seven aces during the four-match tournament from September 6-7 … Had a run of three straight 20-dig efforts from September 13-14, including a season-high 22 digs and four aces against Cal Lutheran on September 13 … Also came through with 21 digs during a four-set match against Southwestern the following day … Finished the season with 19 double-digit dig efforts, including a run of five straight from September 20-27 … Capped off the year with 12 digs during the NCAA Tournament against Cabrini and Eastern … Ranked fifth on the team with 24 aces … Launched three against No. 20 Stevenson during the regular season finale on November 2.

At Mathews - Four-year standout as a defensive specialist and libero for the Blue Devils … Earned first-team All-District accolades as a junior and senior after securing second-team nods during her sophomore campaign … Also picked up first-team All-Region and All-State honors for her performance as a senior … Named the Regional Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 … Helped lead the Blue Devils to four straight District and Regional championships and a pair of state titles during her final two seasons … Named the MVP of the Regional Tournament … Earned All-Academic honors during her final three years … Competed in the VHSCA Senior All-Star Game at the Freeman Center.

Personal - Rachel Hope Close is the daughter of Jim and Brenda Close … Has an older sister, Andrea … Her dream vacation would be to Siesta Key, Florida … Her favorite movie is “The Longest Yard,” while “My Sister’s Keeper” is her favorite book … Her goal in life is to make a difference in children’s lives.