NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The CNU volleyball team that reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division III tournament has been ranked No. 16 in the nation in the final poll of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is the highest ranking in program history.

The Captains concluded their best season ever with a 36-7 record and made their seventh trip to the NCAA event in the last nine years. The No. 16 ranking bettered CNU's previous best of No. 20, which came during last season.

After sweeping through the USA South unbeaten for the third year in a row, CNU's young team won the New York Regional in the NCAA tournament with wins over Stevens Tech, NYU and Salisbury.

That landed them in the Elite 8 where they faced second-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh. CNU took the first set over the Titans, but then fell, 3-1.

The Captains had no seniors on the 2009 roster and will welcome all 14 players back next year. That group features three All-Americans, junior Caitlyn Jansen who was a third team choice, and freshmen Kara Elder and Abby Hogge who each received honorable mention.

The AVCA poll