Live Stats

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- The Christopher Newport volleyball team moved back into the top-10 in the latest AVCA National Rankings and will wrap up its regular season schedule this week when the squad hits the road for a pair of Capital Athletic Conference tests at Mary Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. and York on Saturday at noon.

After anchoring the 13th position in the AVCA rankings for the past three weeks, the Captains moved back into the top-10 for the first time since September 30. The squad earned 931 points in the latest poll, which placed the team 10th in the rankings and just 46 points behind ninth-place St. Thomas (Minn.).

Calvin took over the top spot in the poll with 38 first-place votes, while Hope, Cal Lutheran, Wittenberg, and Washington-St. Louis round out the top-five. Emory, Mount Union, and Wisconsin-Stevens Point also earned top-10 billings along with St. Thomas and CNU.

Entering the final week of the regular season, Christopher Newport stands at 27-3 overall and 7-0 in the CAC. The Captains currently sit atop the conference standings and can lock up the outright regular season championship and No. 1 seed in the postseason with a victory this week. Mary Washington sits in a tie for second in the league standings with a 5-2 CAC record and a 21-9 mark overall. York is battling for the sixth seed at 2-5 in conference action and 9-20 overall.

For those fans unable to make it to Fredericksburg or York this weekend, live stats will be available at CNUsports.com. A direct link can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.

Christopher Newport has picked up steam at the tail end of its regular season slate and currently boasts a nine-match winning streak. The squad has also upended its last six conference foes with pristine three-set victories.

On a national level, the Captains rank seventh in the NCAA with a .270 hitting percentage. The team also ranks among the top-30 in nearly every other important statistical category, including 23rd in blocks, 26th in aces, and 27th in kills. CNU's .900 winning percentage this season also stands fifth in the country.

Individually, Hannah Miller sits 10th in the NCAA with a .370 hitting percentage and 22nd with a 1.10 blocks-per-set average. Last week, she eclipsed the 100-block plateau for the second straight season, becoming the first Captain in program history to reach that milestone during each of her first two campaigns. Fittingly, she was honored as the CAC Player of the Week for the second time this season after registering 23 rejections during CNU's four matches last week.

Equally impressive on the national level, Rachel Conway ranks 24th in the NCAA with a 10.19 assists-per-set average. Her 988 total assists also rank 27th in the country and first in the CAC. A well-rounded contributor, the junior setter also has 59 blocks and 30 aces to go along with a 1.87 digs-per-set average.

In addition to the nationally-ranked performers, Briana Sutton sits second on the team with 266 kills, while Maddie McCann has 251. Eliza Fisher has been effective as well during her freshman season, punching 208 kills while hitting at a .261 clip. On the defensive end, Brooke Moore has a team-best 3.73 digs-per-set average, while Ashley Rock ranks second on the squad with 82 blocks.

Mary Washington enters Thursday riding a five-match winning streak, including 3-0 victories over Penn St. Harrisburg and Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. The Eagles have been lethal at the serving line all season, blasting a league-high 319 aces, including 59 by Jenifer Grove. Freshman Dani Fiore has also clubbed 58 to go along with a team-high 288 kills. Defensively, Jenna Yost leads UMW with 321 digs, while Emma Murphy has 81 blocks.

York has stumbled a bit recently and is currently on a six-match skid, including a 3-1 setback at Salisbury on Saturday. The Spartans will battle Penn St. Harrisburg on Wednesday prior to their contest against the Captains. Katherine Graziano has been the squad's most effective performer this season and leads the CAC with a 5.11 digs-per-set average. On the offensive end, Charlotte Sabatano has 243 kills, while Katie Huston has 242. Kristin Martinak is dishing out 7.23 assists-per-set as well.

The CAC Tournament will begin next Tuesday with a pair of first-round tilts. The top-two seeds will earn byes and return to action with semifinal match-ups on Thursday. The championship game is slated for Saturday.

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