CHICAGO – Visiting the Windy City for the prestigious Gargoyle Classic, the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off the tournament on Friday evening as the Captains open with a twin bill against Benedictine and No. 14 Chicago at the Ratner Athletics Center.

Eventually, play will continue on Saturday with another doubleheader against Wisconsin Lutheran and No. 6 Elmhurst. Friday's slate will begin at 6 p.m. before Saturday's action gets underway at noon.

Ready to shake off a 1-3 performance at last week's Emory Classic, the Captains will square off with a host of new teams in Chicago. Christopher Newport has never faced any of the squads that it will match up against during the Gargoyle Classic.

Making an appearance in the AVCA national rankings for the 40th consecutive poll, CNU comes to Chicago with a 7-5 overall record. The team went 3-1 during the Captains Classic and Washington & Lee Invitational before stumbling against a litany of top-ranked opponents in Atlanta last week.

On the national level, Christopher Newport ranks among the top-100 in blocking and kills-per-set. Currently, the Captains sit 44th overall with a rate of 2.02 blocks-per-set and 98th in the nation with an 11.67 kills-per-frame average. The squad sits just outside of the rankings with a 10.51 assists-per-set mark as well.

Nationally-ranked for her defensive prowess, senior Chastity Lacy is 89th in the NCAA with a 0.94 blocks-per-set mark. An intimidating force in every facet of the game, she also leads CNU with a .276 hitting percentage and stands second on the squad with 78 kills. Along with those efforts, she has uncorked 11 aces, which ranks second on the team.

Tough on the outside, Briana Sutton leads Christopher Newport with 84 blasts and enters the Gargoyle Classic with an average of 2.47 kills-per-set. Second-year standout Abby McIntyre has also unloaded 77 kills and 10 aces while collecting 101 digs on the defensive end.

Assisting the front-line, Rachel Conway has dished out a team-high 246 assists, while freshman Paxton Crooks has 171. Conway has also made her presence felt along the net with 22 blocks, while Crooks has been strong on the back end with 65 digs.

Veteran Brooke Moore and freshman Rachel Close have been CNU's most consistent players on the back row. Close leads the team with a 3.61 digs-per-set average, while Moore has contributed a 2.40 mark. Jessie Kolden has also chipped in with 70 digs and a team-best .974 reception percentage.

Especially successful over the last two weeks, Benedictine has won five of its last six bouts and sits at 5-4 overall. The Eagles have been led by Candice Cuppini, who boasts 117 kills and a stellar .364 hitting percentage. Abby Sattler has also pumped 17 aces and dished out 8.93 assists-per-set, while Haley Fitzgerald has anchored the back row with 115 digs.

NCAA Tournament participants last year, Chicago has gotten off to a 7-4 start in 2013. Katie Huntington leads the Maroons with 109 kills and a .293 hitting percentage, while Maren Loe and Morgan Barry have each pounded 88 blasts. On the defensive end, Kara Conway has recorded a team-high 29 blocks, and Maggie Vaughn leads the squad with 11 solo stops.

Upended in the team's previous six contests, Wisconsin Lutheran enters the tournament at 3-10 overall. Despite the six-match skid, Erin Greenfield has gotten her senior season off on the right foot with 159 kills and a 2.34 digs-per-set average. She has been helped by second-year setter Alexis Hafemeister, who is averaging 8.35 assists-per-set.

Elmhurst, who advanced to the Final Four last year, comes into the weekend with a 9-1 record. Sam Szarmach has been the team's top offensive threat with 112 kills, while Megan Reynolds has 82 to go along with a team-high 56 blocks. Hannah Lessen has been the top performer on the back row for the Blue Jays, averaging 4.34 digs-per-set.

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