ASHLAND, Va. – Starting a two-match road swing, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will head to Randolph-Macon on Friday for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Yellow Jackets at Crenshaw Gym.

The Captains enter the non-league battle with an 11-10 overall record, including a 1-0 mark in the Capital Athletic Conference after upending Salisbury on Wednesday. Randolph-Macon comes in at 12-6, including a two-match winning streak. The Yellow Jackets are also receiving votes in the national poll after their strong start to the year.

Among the longest-running rivalries in CNU history, Christopher Newport and Randolph-Macon have battled 21 times with the Captains holding a 15-6 edge in the all-time series. Last season, CNU swept both meetings after posting a 3-1 victory in the regular season before locking up a 3-2 triumph during the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Two of the top blocking teams in the nation, CNU and R-MC both enter Friday's match ranked in the top-30 nationally in blocks-per-set. The Yellow Jackets have been averaging 2.38 rejections per set, which places them firmly in the top-20. The Captains have been nearly as dominant, posting 2.14 blocks per frame, which stands 29th overall.

Especially active up front, senior Chastity Lacy leads Christopher Newport with 76 blocks this season. Her 1.13 blocks-per-set average ranks among the national leaders and places her second in the CAC. The reigning All-American has also moved into eighth all-time in CNU history with 259 career blocks.

Sophomore Abby McIntyre has helped anchor the attack, leading the team with 146 kills and 24 aces. A solid defensive player as well, she currently ranks second on the squad with a 2.55 digs-per-set average.

Also piecing together a solid freshman campaign, Hannah Miller ranks second on the team with 55 blocks and third with 131 kills. Fellow first-year standout Briana Sutton has also averaged 2.13 kills-per-set, including 10 blasts during the CAC opener against Salisbury on Wednesday.

Vying for the team's third straight victory, Randolph-Macon has been led by sophomore Courtney Lowers, who boasts 157 kills and 34 blocks. Katie Rossberg also has 146 kills, while Marli Dabareiner has been averaging over five digs-per-set. Tori Puryear has been active up front for the Yellow Jackets, collecting 66 blocks, including 11 solo stops.

Eventually, Christopher Newport will continue its road swing on October 8 when the Captains head to Buena Vista, Virginia for a 5 p.m. battle against Southern Virginia.

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