Live Stats // Video Stream
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will close out the 2015 regular season on Saturday at noon when the Captains travel to Marymount for a Capital Athletic Conference showdown at the Verizon Sports Arena.
Entering the finale, the Captains boast a 26-2 record, including an 8-0 mark in league action. The team has already secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CAC Tournament and is assured of at least a share of the conference's regular season championship. Meanwhile, Marymount sits at 18-8 overall with a 5-3 mark in CAC play. The Saints are also guaranteed a spot in the upcoming league playoffs with their seed yet to be determined.
For those fans unable to make it to Arlington for the match, Marymount will provide live stats and a video stream of the action at MarymountSaints.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
A LOOK AT THE CAPTAINS Looking to wrap up the regular season on a high note, Christopher Newport is currently riding a 14-match winning streak. Impressive throughout the season, the Captains rank first in the CAC with a .268 team hitting percentage, which also places them seventh in the entire NCAA.
Rachel Conway has helped facilitate the attack and ranks 12th in the country with a 10.77 assists-per-set average.
Briana Sutton also stands 15th in the country with 391 kills.
One of the most efficient hitters in the league,
Hannah Miller is third in the CAC with a .318 hitting percentage. The junior All-American is also averaging 2.71 kills-per-set and sits second on the team with 75 blocks. Equally effective on the defensive end,
Ashley Rock is third in the league with a 0.90 blocks-per-set average, while
Rachel Close is fifth in the conference with 367 digs.
LAST TIME OUT On Wednesday, CNU extended its winning streak to 14 with a 3-0 victory over Wesley at the Freeman Center. During the contest, Rock posted eight kills and a .467 hitting percentage, while Close collected 14 digs and four aces.
Abby McIntyre also pocketed eight digs for the Captains, and Conway dished out 32 assists.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS Marymount is coming off of a 3-1 setback at Salisbury on Wednesday after winning six of its previous eight bouts. The Saints have been led by an impressive defense as the squad ranks first in the CAC and 20th in the nation with a 2.12 blocks-per-set average. Cailyn Thomas has been the top threat along the net with a 1.12 blocks-per-set mark, which leads the CAC. Leading the attack, Emileigh Rettig has a team-best 2.86 kills-per-set average, while Morgan McAlpin is second with a 2.42 mark.
SERIES HISTORY Marymount and CNU have met 22 times with the Saints holding a 13-9 edge in the series. Last year, the Captains posted a 3-0 victory on Senior Day at the Freeman Center.
UP NEXT Following Saturday's match, Christopher Newport will return to action on November 5 for the CAC Semifinals at the Freeman Center. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. with the opponent to be determined.
---CNU---
