NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport University is bustling with excitement as the 2010-11 season readies to kick off this season. After the most successful year in CNU Athletics history in 2009-10, the fall 2010 seasons begin this week as the Captains look to get back to action.

Head Coach Matt Kelchner and the CNU football team will open its schedule against one of the best teams in the nation, Wesley College. The Wolverines are ranked third in the country heading into this season coming off a trip to the NCAA Semifinals and a 13-1 season. The Captains are returning the largest senior class ever, including fifth year QB Matt Long and Pre-Season All-American LB Adrin Diggs. CNU will host Wesley at POMOCO Stadium this Saturday, September 4 at 1:00 p.m. to kick off the 10th season in program history.

Tickets are still available for the season opener. General Admission tickets are $7 and Reserved Seating is $10. Students are free with a valid ID. For more information, go to www.cnusports.com.

Also starting their seasons  this week are the Captains three nationally ranked fall programs in men's soccer, field hockey and volleyball. All three nationally ranked programs will open their seasons Wednesday night.

Under the direction of head coach Steve Shaw, the men's soccer team is ranked #5 in the country heading into the 2010 season, after back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances. The exciting group features junior All-American Winston Mattheison, the Captains leading scorer in 2009 with 12 goals and 27 points, and was the unanimous selection to win the USA South in 2010. The season will begin on Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. as the Captains play host to the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets.

CNU will also host the VCAM/CNU Classic this weekend, welcoming Richard Stockton College and Haverford College. The schedule for the in-season tournament will begin with a neutral site game between Virginia Wesleyan and the Stockton Ospreys at 5:00 pm Saturday, September 4. CNU will follow that game up with their home match against Haverford at approximately 7:00 pm. On Sunday, September 5, Va. Wesleyan will play Haverford at 4:00 pm with the Captains taking on Stockton at 6:00 pm to wrap up the weekend. All games will be played at Captains Field on the campus of Christopher Newport University.

Head coach Carrie Moura and the Captains field hockey squad weigh in at #12 in the country as they look to kick off their season on Wednesday night as well. CNU has reached four straight NCAA Tournaments playing as an Independent, including four straight Sweet 16 appearances. The team is led by Taylor Harrell, the leading scorer in 2009 with 16 goals and four assists. This season, CNU will face four teams ranked in the Top 20, including top-ranked Salisbury next week. On Wednesday night, the Captains will host Randolph-Macon on Captains Turf Field at 6:00 pm.

Moura's squad is also slated to play at Noon on Sunday, September 5, as they host Rhodes College, another independent. Admission is free for all fans.

Wrapping up the week of events for Christopher Newport this week is head coach Lindsay Birch's volleyball team, ranked #15 in the nation. Birch directed the Captains to a program-best 36-7 mark in 2009, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in nine years. The team reached the NCAA Elite Eight last season and didn't lose a single player to graduation. Leading the Captains is senior Caitlyn Jansen who, last year, was named a third team All-America, the USA South Player of the Year and the All-State Division II-III Player of the Year.The exciting team and one of the most dominant programs on campus will play on the hardwood in the Freeman Center Wednesday night, hosting the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College at 7:00 pm.

Birch and the Captains will hit the road for the weekend, facing the first of many big-time tests this season. CNU will face #2 Juniata on Friday, September 3 at 8:00 pm. On Saturday, they will face both Dickinson College and Franklin & Marshall.

Finally, the Captains women's soccer team, under third-year direction of head coach Ruth Keegan, will not be at home this first week, but will open the 2010 regular season in nearby Virginia Beach. The Captains will open the season against top-ranked Messiah College at 6:00 pm this Friday, September 3 on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College. CNU will also play Montclair State on Saturday, September 4 in Va. Beach at 5:00 pm.

There are home events aplenty on the campus of Christopher Newport University this week, and throughout the fall season. Stay tuned to cnusports.com for the most up-to-date information on your favorite Captains team.

CNU Athletics - Week of Aug. 30-Sep. 5
Wednesday, September 1
#12 CNU Field Hockey vs. Randolph-Macon, Captains Turf Field -- 6:00 pm
#5 CNU Men's Soccer vs. Randolph-Macon, Captains Field -- 7:00 pm
#15 CNU Volleyball vs. Virginia Wesleyan, Freeman Center -- 7:00 pm

Friday, September 3
#15 CNU Volleyball at #2 Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa. -- 8:00 pm
CNU Women's Soccer at #1 Messiah College, Virginia Beach, Va. -- 6:00 pm

Saturday, September 4
CNU Football vs. #3 Wesley College, POMOCO Stadium -- 1:00 pm
#5 CNU Men's Soccer vs. Haverford College, Captains Field -- 7:00 pm (approx.)
#15 CNU Volleyball vs. Dickinson College, Huntingdon, Pa. -- 1:00 pm
#15 CNU Volleyball vs. Franklin & Marshall, Huntingdon, Pa. -- 3:00 pm
CNU Women's Soccer vs. Montclair State, Virginia Beach, Va. -- 5:00 pm

Sunday, September 5
#12 CNU Field Hockey vs. Rhodes College, Captains Turf Field -- 12:00 pm (NOON)
#5 CNU Men's Soccer vs. Richard Stockton College, Captains Field -- 6:00 pm (approx.)