Live Video // Live Stats
BUENA VISTA, Va. -- The second-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off Capital Athletic Conference action on Tuesday when the Captains head to Southern Virginia for a 6 p.m. bout at the Knight Sports Arena.
CNU comes into the match-up with a 14-2 record following a solid showing during non-conference action to open the year. Southern Virginia, who finished second in the CAC last season, currently sports a 4-11 record in 2015. Tuesday's contest will also serve as the Knights' conference opener.
For those fans unable to make it to Buena Vista, Southern Virginia will provide live stats and a video stream of the action. 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 Entering conference action, Christopher Newport boasts an impressive offensive attack as the team leads the CAC with a .258 hitting percentage and a 13.52 kills-per-set average. On an individual level, senior setter
Rachel Conway has helped facilitate the offense with a CAC-best 10.95 assists-per-set average. Meanwhile,
Briana Sutton ranks second in the league with a .326 hitting percentage and a 4.53 kills-per-set mark.
Hannah Miller has also contributed 146 total kills while hitting .304 as well.
On the defensive end,
Ashley Rock has frustrated opposing attacks all season, ranking second in the conference with a 0.95 blocks-per-set average. Miller also has 46 rejections this year, while
Rachel Close has paced the back row with a 3.64 digs-per-set average.
Abby McIntyre has also pocketed 137 digs this year while posting a team-high .948 reception percentage.
LAST TIME OUT The Captains traveled to Lexington for three matches last weekend, dropping a five-set decision to No. 4 Emory on Friday before defeating Randolph-Macon and Washington & Lee in a doubleheader on Saturday. During the three matches, Sutton led the way with 71 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. She became the first Captain since 2001 to have at least 20 kills in three straight matches, highlighted by a career-best 28-kill outburst against Emory.
McIntyre also had a solid run over the weekend, posting back-to-back double-doubles against Emory and Macon before finishing one kill shy of a third one against the Generals. Meanwhile, Conway averaged over 11 assists per set during the three bouts, including 62 against Emory. That total ranks seventh on the program's all-time single-match list.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS Southern Virginia has dropped its last two matches, including a 3-0 setback at Division II Chowan on Saturday. However, the squad did win its last home contest after upending Randolph, 3-1, on September 24. Freshman Allison Tiegs has been SVU's top offensive threat, averaging 4.12 kills-per-set. That places her fourth in the CAC. Hannah Phillips also boasts 124 kills this year, while Melissa Owen leads the team with 24 blocks. On the back row, Ofa Moa-Sam Fong has a 3.78 digs-per-set average.
SERIES HISTORY CNU and Southern Virginia have met 12 times with the Captains holding a 10-2 advantage in the series. Last season, Christopher Newport swept SVU at the Freeman Center behind 10 kills by Sutton and eight by Miller.
UP NEXT Following Tuesday's match, the Captains will have an eight-day rest before returning to action with a home bout against Salisbury at 7 p.m. on October 7.
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