NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The top-seeded Christopher Newport University women's volleyball team, boasting a record of 31-4, will host the USA South Tournament Semifinals and Championship this weekend, starting Friday. The Freeman Center welcomes #6 Shenandoah and #2 Averett for the first Semifinal matchup on Friday at 5:00 pm, followed by CNU taking on #4 N.C. Wesleyan at 7:30 pm.

There will be a special presentation following the first semifinal game, honoring the 2011 USA South All-Conference teams. The USA South Championship game will follow the two semifinals on Saturday, at 1:00 pm. Live stats and live video will be available of all three contests at CNUsports.com.

Christopher Newport is the top seed for the fifth straight year, after another undefeated conference season, going 18-0 against USA South competition. The Captains have won four straight conference tournaments and six of the last seven.

Averett enters this weekend's semifinal round as the number two seed, led by head coach Danny Miller. The Cougars are the only other team in the USA South to win the conference championship since 1997. The team was 25-10 overall and lost just one match against a conference opponent other than CNU. 

N.C. Wesleyan is the #4 seed, posting a 20-10 overall record so far this season. The Battling Bishops are led by Meredith Smith, averaging 3.67 kills per set while hitting .239. Mackenzie Tingle has posted 8.24 assists per set earned First Team All-Conference honors as the senior setter for the Bishops.

The final semi-final team is sixth-seeded Shenandoah, coming in off an upset of #3 Methodist in the quarterfinals held on Tuesday. Haley Smith leads the way for the Hornets, hitting .302 on the season with 2.15 kills per set.