BUENA VISTA, Va. -- Visiting Southern Virginia for the first time in program history, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will look to get back on track when the squad takes on the Knights at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the Knight Sports Arena.

In the midst of a quick two-match road swing, the Captains enter Tuesday at 11-11, including 1-0 in Capital Athletic Conference action. Southern Virginia currently stands at 9-5 and has won four straight matches, including victories over CAC members Wesley and York (Pa.) over the weekend.

Ripping off six straight wins against the Knights dating back to 2000, the Captains sit at 8-2 overall against Southern Virginia. The two programs have met three times in Newport News and seven times during neutral-site tournaments, including a four-set victory by CNU during the Washington & Lee Invitational earlier this season.

Guided by Abby McIntyre, the Captains won the first meeting with Southern Virginia, 3-1, on September 6 in Lexington. During the contest, McIntyre collected a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Krista Hughes and Rachel Conway each had a pair of solo blocks. Conway also finished with a team-high 27 assists.

In addition to her work against Southern Virginia, McIntyre has pieced together a strong season overall. She currently leads the team with 156 kills and 25 aces. During her sophomore campaign, she has nine double-digit kill efforts, including one in each of her last three matches.

Not to be overlooked, Chastity Lacy has been strong in nearly every facet of the game during her senior season. She ranks second on the squad with 153 kills and 24 aces while also contributing a team-high 80 blocks. That total stands among the national leaders and places her second overall in the CAC.

Impressive along the net as well, Hannah Miller sits fourth in the league with a 0.80 blocks-per-set average and leads CNU with 24 solo stops. Conway has also been a disruptive force, posting 51 rejections, which ranks eighth in the conference.

Adding to the team's solid defensive performance, freshman Rachel Close has led the back row with 251 digs, which places her sixth in the league. McIntyre and Brooke Moore are also averaging well over two digs per set, while Jessie Kolden and Paxton Crooks have done solid work in the back as well.

Along with the Captains, Southern Virginia is new to the Capital Athletic Conference this season. Although the Knights are a full-time member of the CAC, the school is still under an NCAA provisional period because of its transition to Division III. Therefore, their matches against conference opponents do not count towards the league standings in 2013.

Victorious in eight of their last nine matches, the Knights come into the week riding a wave of momentum. Especially successful at home, Southern Virginia boasts a pristine 3-0 record in Buena Vista with three-set victories against Hollins, Eastern Mennonite, and St. Mary's.

Establishing a solid reputation on the back row, freshman April Bennett currently leads the team and ranks third in the CAC with a 5.05 digs-per-set average. Katelynn Tlustek also ranks among the league-leaders with 330 assists and 30 aces, while Kaitlyn Eaton has 81 kills and is hitting at a conference-best .375 clip.

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