Live Stats // Live Video
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fourth-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off its Capital Athletic Conference home slate on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Captains welcome Salisbury to town for a league bout at the Freeman Center.
CNU enters the match-up with a 15-2 record, including a 1-0 mark in CAC play. On a national level, Christopher Newport continued to hold steady at No. 4 in the latest AVCA rankings, which were released on Tuesday afternoon. Washington-St. Louis took over the No. 1 position for the first time this season, while Juniata and Emory round out the top-three.
Meanwhile, Salisbury comes into Wednesday with a 14-6 record, including a 1-0 league mark. The Sea Gulls are riding a seven-match winning streak and are a perfect 4-0 in road tilts this year.
For those fans unable to make it to Newport News for Wednesday's game, the Captains will provide live stats and a video stream at CNUsports.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 So far this season, Christopher Newport has boasted an electric offensive attack, which ranks eighth in the NCAA in kills-per-set and ninth with a .260 hitting percentage. On an individual level,
Briana Sutton is ninth nationally with a 4.49 kills-per-set mark, while
Rachel Conway is seventh with a 10.85 assists-per-frame average. Sutton also ranks among the top-20 in the country in total kills and points-per-set.
Along with the national leaders,
Hannah Miller is second on the team with 155 kills and a .312 hitting percentage, while
Maddie McCann sits third with 126 total blasts. On the defensive end,
Ashley Rock is second in the CAC with a 0.97 blocks-per-set average. Miller also has 48 rejections this year, and
Rachel Close has paced the back row with 220 digs.
Abby McIntyre has pocketed 154 digs, and
Evelyn Harper has totaled 134 as well.
LAST TIME OUT The Captains were last in action on September 29 when the squad extended its winning streak to three matches with a 3-0 victory at Southern Virginia. During the bout, Sutton hit the Knights with a team-high 11 kills, while Miller added nine to go along with a .467 hitting percentage. McIntyre was outstanding on both sides of the ball with 17 digs and seven kills as well.
SCOUTING THE SEA GULLS Salisbury has been rolling lately as the team has collected seven straight victories, including a 3-0 triumph at St. Mary's last Wednesday. Katie Stouffer has been exceptional on the outside for the Sea Gulls as the junior standout ranks second in the NCAA with a 5.00 kills-per-set average. She also sits fourth in the CAC with a .309 hitting percentage. Nicole Venturelli also has 222 kills this season, and Rachel Pierson ranks among the conference leaders with a 9.77 assists-per-set mark. Shannon Russell has blistered 37 aces for SU, and Kacey Franz leads the team with a 3.09 digs-per-set average as well.
SERIES HISTORY The Captains and Sea Gulls have met 29 times with CNU holding a 16-13 edge in the series. Last year, Christopher Newport recorded a five-set victory at Salisbury before sweeping the Sea Gulls in the CAC Championship Match in Newport News.
UP NEXT Following Wednesday's battle, the Captains will return to action on Saturday for a tri-match against Frostburg State and Washington & Lee at the Freeman Center. CNU will open up against the Bobcats at 11 a.m. before taking on the Generals at 3 p.m.
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