Complete Interactive Bracket // PDF Bracket

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – For the third consecutive season, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will serve as a regional host in the NCAA Tournament as the Captains will welcome seven squads to the Freeman Center beginning with first-round action on Friday.

CNU will open up the tournament against Washington & Lee, which earned a bid after capturing the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship on Saturday. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. Overall, the Captains come into the contest with a 36-2 mark and a program-record 28-match winning streak. The Generals sit at 26-9.

Joining those two programs will be a host of top-notch squads from around the country. In other opening-round action at the Newport News Regional on Friday, No. 23 Juniata (24-11) will battle Trinity (20-15) at 12:30 p.m., No. 6 Emory (31-5) will square off with Salem (14-13) at 3:00 p.m., and Randolph-Macon (23-6) will face Gallaudet (31-6) at 5:30 p.m.

The semifinals of the Regional will take place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The title match is slated for Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The Captains enter the playoffs riding a wave of momentum after capturing their sixth consecutive USA South Championship. Overall, this marks the program's 10th NCAA Tournament appearance. Last season, CNU advanced to the national championship match after rolling to the Elite Eight in 2009 and 2010.

As a result of its daunting schedule during the regular season, Christopher Newport has already battled 13 teams in the NCAA Tournament and holds a 12-2 mark during those contests. In the Newport News Regional alone, the Captains boast victories over Trinity, Juniata, Randolph-Macon, and Washington & Lee. The squad also suffered a 3-2 setback at the hands of Emory earlier in the year.

CNU has been led all year by its outstanding senior class as Bailey Jensen ranks among the national leaders in hitting percentage and blocks-per-set, while Alyssa Kidd sits near the top in assists. Fellow seniors Abby Hogge, Cory Harris, and Christie Fellows earned All-Conference accolades for their efforts this season as well.

The winner of the Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships, which will be hosted at DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland, Michigan from November 15-17.

---CNU---