NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making its 2013 debut, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off the year at home as the squad hosts the annual Captains Classic at the Freeman Center beginning on Friday with bouts against Lynchburg and Berry.

Eager to get the season underway, CNU will open against the Hornets at 4 p.m. before squaring off with the Vikings at 8 p.m. Continuing action on Saturday, the squad will take on SUNY New Paltz at noon before wrapping up the two-day tournament against Edgewood at 4:30 p.m.

During the Captains Classic, live stats will be available for all of Christopher Newport's matches. Fans can access those links by visiting the team's schedule page on CNUsports.com.

Incredibly tough at home, the Captains boast a 26-match winning streak at the Freeman Center dating back to the 2011 campaign. Last year, CNU rolled to the Captains Classic championship behind four straight 3-0 victories. Overall, the team lost just eight sets at home all year.

The Captains have little history with the squads making the trek to Newport News this weekend. CNU has never faced SUNY New Paltz or Edgewood. Additionally, the squad dropped its only meeting with Berry back in 2007 and trails 9-4 in the all-time series with Lynchburg. Christopher Newport did pull out a 3-0 decision against the Hornets during the CNU Invitational last season.

Entering 2013, the Captains feature a veteran core that helped the squad reach the Final Four during each of the last two seasons. Senior All-American Chastity Lacy had a breakout junior campaign after ranking second on the team with 124 blocks and a .304 hitting percentage. She also picked up 252 kills while earning first-team All-Region accolades.

Ripping a team-high 446 kills last year, junior Jessie Kolden also returns after securing third-team All-American nods in 2012. A staple on the outside for the Captains, she notched a .274 hitting percentage while showing off a well-rounded skill set. During the year, she contributed 34 aces, 43 blocks, and 124 digs as well.

Really adept along the back row, fellow junior Brooke Moore has been a dangerous server since joining the program. Last season, she led the USA South with 66 aces, marking the most by a Captain since 2009. Equally successful on the defensive end, she ranked third on the team with 280 digs while finishing with a .960 reception percentage as well.

Also returning for the Captains will be a host of other veterans who have made significant contributions at various points in their careers. Abby McIntyre and Krista Hughes both saw action during the stretch run for CNU last season, while Rachel Conway stepped up and shined as the setter on several occasions against top-flight opponents early in 2012.

New Paltz enters 2013 riding a wave of momentum after a successful showing in 2012. Last year, the Hawks went 34-9, captured the SUNYAC Championship, and advanced to the New York Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament. Senior libero Carrie Hack and setter Marissa King headline the team's returning contingent after securing honorable mention AVCA All-American nods last season.

Equally successful last year, Berry won the Southern Athletic Association championship while rolling to a 27-5 overall record. Emily Stromberg earned SAA Freshman of the Year plaudits in 2012 and is joined by a host of returning All-Conference honorees, including middle blockers Katie O'Rourke and Gretchen Kaufman. The Vikings also have an impressive CNU connection as former two-time All-American Caitlyn Jansen serves as the team's assistant coach.

Also boasting a tie to the Captains, Lynchburg comes to town with a familiar face on the sidelines as 2012 All-American Alyssa Kidd joined the Hornets as a graduate assistant during the offseason. Similar to the other teams, Lynchburg is coming off of a strong year after compiling a 24-10 record last season. The squad advanced to the ODAC Championship match before falling to Washington & Lee, 3-1, in the title bout.