NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Starting Capital Athletic Conference play this week, the Christopher Newport volleyball team enters league action ranked 24th in the latest AVCA national poll as CNU prepares for an important showdown with Salisbury at the Freeman Center on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.

The Captains, who have appeared in 42 consecutive national polls dating back to 2009, enter Wednesday's match-up with a 10-10 overall record. Salisbury, who captured last year's CAC championship, stands at 17-2 and sits just outside of the AVCA top-25.

Coverage of tomorrow's league opener will be available on CNUsports.com. Christopher Newport will broadcast the match live through a web stream, which can be found at CNUsports.com/Live. A direct link is also located on the Captains' schedule page.

Heading into their first league match-up, Christopher Newport and Salisbury have a long-running non-conference rivalry dating back to 1983. Over the past three decades, the two programs have battled 25 times with SU holding a slim 13-12 lead in the series. CNU has won the last six meetings, including a pair of victories last year.

Among the top-30 nationally in blocks-per-set, the Captains have been active along the net throughout the 2013 season. Currently, the team boasts 157 total blocks and has limited the opposition to a paltry .156 hitting percentage. Their 2.15 blocks-per-set average also ranks among the highest in program history and is just a tick behind last year's 2.18 mark.

Rock solid up front, senior Chastity Lacy leads the way with 73 blocks and is tied with Abby McIntyre for the team-lead with 133 kills and 21 aces. Just as disruptive on the defensive end, freshman Hannah Miller is second on the team with 55 blocks, including a team-best 21 solo stops. Rachel Conway also has 44 rejections to go along with 373 assists.

Leading the back row, Rachel Close and Brooke Moore have shared significant time at libero and are averaging a combined six digs per set. Close has also tossed 17 aces, while fellow freshman Paxton Crooks has uncorked 11 winners in addition to her 283 assists.

Entering Wednesday's contest on a four-match winning streak, Salisbury has pieced together a strong 2013 campaign after rolling to the Elite 8 last year. Currently, the squad ranks among the top-30 nationally in winning percentage (.895), aces-per-set (2.67), and hitting percentage (.255).

Salisbury has been led by Michelle Meehan, who ranks among the national leaders with a 5.21 digs-per-set average. Up front, Mattie Smith has a team-high 184 kills, while Tam Weems has 89 to go along with 59 blocks. Kacey Franz also has a team-high 508 assists.

---CNU---