Live Stats

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Off to the finest start in program history, the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will look to continue its run during the CNU Invitational, which kicks off on Friday evening at the Freeman Center.

The Captains will host their second tournament of the season as the squad welcomes in Berry, Johns Hopkins, Mount Union, and William Peace for the two-day invitational. CNU will open up against former USA South foe William Peace at 6 p.m. on Friday before battling Berry at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, Christopher Newport will continue the tournament with a noon showdown with Johns Hopkins before squaring off against No. 7 Mount Union in the finale at 4 p.m. For those fans unable to make it out to the matches, live stats will be available for all of the action at CNUsports.com/live.

Entering the tournament with a perfect 8-0 record, CNU is off to a tremendous start after winning the Captains Classic and Mary Washington Invitational titles. As a team, Christopher Newport boasts a .301 hitting percentage and has limited the opposition to a .105 mark. The squad has also been excellent on serve-receive so far this year, unloading 63 aces while compiling a .939 reception percentage.

On an individual level, Hannah Miller has anchored the middle of the front line with 99 kills and 23 blocks. The reigning AVCA National Player of the Week has also registered a .459 hitting percentage to help pace the team's potent attack.

Fellow sophomore Briana Sutton has been lethal as well, uncorking 90 kills to go along with a .323 hitting percentage. Maddie McCann has also tallied 61 kills, including 12 against Randolph-Macon last weekend, while Rachel Conway is averaging 10.69 assists-per-set. The junior setter has also contributed 14 blocks, 10 aces, and 55 digs.

On the defensive end, Brooke Moore has been a stalwart on the back row, averaging 4.30 digs-per-set. Evelyn Harper and Rachel Close have also done fine work as defensive specialists, while Abby McIntyre has 45 digs and ranks second on the team with 12 aces.

William Peace comes to Newport News with a 2-7 overall record. The Pacers, who are 0-23 all-time against the Captains, have been led this year by Megan Mansfield, who has 75 kills and 14 blocks. The squad has also collected 64 kills from both Merica Ivey and Laura Bland, while Baylee Maughon is averaging 9.30 assists-per-set. Carson Williams has chipped in with a team-high 122 digs as well.

Berry, who competed in last year's Captains Classic, sports a 2-6 record this season. The Vikings have faced a tough slate in the early going, battling four teams currently ranked in the AVCA Top-25, including a 3-1 victory over No. 22 DePauw. Junior Emily Stromberg has been the team's top force so far, leading the way with 108 kills while pocketing 114 digs and 13 blocks.

Johns Hopkins, a perennial NCAA Tournament participant in recent years, comes into Friday's action with a 2-5 overall record. Like Berry, the Blue Jays have faced a tough early-season slate, including setbacks against No. 3 Hope, No. 9 Wittenberg, and No. 16 St. Thomas. Liz Wuerstle has been JHU's top performer with 61 kills and nine aces through seven matches, while Anne Cohen has done fine work on the defensive end with a 3.87 digs-per-set average.

Mount Union comes to Newport News as one of seven undefeated teams in the nation after rolling to a 6-0 mark. The Purple Raiders, who have never faced the Captains, have advanced to the NCAA Tournament during three of the previous four years, including a second-round appearance last season. The team has been led by Nicole Snyder as the senior has 68 kills and a .333 hitting percentage this year. Lauren Mastroine has been equally effective on the back row, averaging 5.26 digs-per-set to go along with 10 aces.

This weekend's tournament is the final appearance at home for the Captains until the squad begins league play on October 8. Until then, Christopher Newport will spend time in four states, including Colorado, over the next three weeks.

---CNU---