Live Video // Live Stats

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 18th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will continue its homestand on Friday night when the Captains kick off an action-packed weekend with a 6 p.m. showdown against 14th-ranked Mary Washington in a key Capital Athletic Conference battle at the Freeman Center.
 
Following their bout against the Eagles, the Captains will host a tri-match with No. 4 Southwestern and Johns Hopkins on Saturday. CNU will face the nationally-ranked Tigers at noon before squaring off against the Blue Jays at 4 p.m.
 
Entering Friday, Christopher Newport sports a 16-5 record, including a 3-1 mark in conference action. Mary Washington is 21-1 with a 4-0 record in league play. Meanwhile, Southwestern currently sits at 20-1, and Johns Hopkins is 12-4.
 
For those fans unable to make it to the matches, live video will be available for all of CNU's contests over the weekend. Live stats will also be provided for Saturday's tri-match. 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
 
Coming into Friday's action, Christopher Newport boasts a 10-1 record at home this season. On an individual level, Hannah Miller has been electric in front of the CNU faithful as the senior has a .371 hitting percentage and a 1.28 blocks-per-set average at the Freeman Center. She is also tied with fellow senior Maddie McCann for the team lead with 113 kills in home contests. Meanwhile, Rachel Close is averaging 4.62 digs per set, and Hope Webb has a 9.61 assists-per-set mark at home this year.
 
Overall this season, Miller and Riley Garrison both rank among the conference leaders in hitting percentage and blocks. Miller is third in hitting percentage (.313) and second in blocks-per-set (1.07), while Garrison is fourth in both. The freshman is currently hitting at a .307 clip while averaging 0.85 blocks per frame.
 
Among other conference leaders, Webb is second in the CAC with a 9.45 assists-per-set average, and Close is fourth with a 4.61 digs-per-set mark.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
On Friday, the Captains saw their historic conference winning streak snapped against Salisbury. Dating back to 2006, CNU had won 138 consecutive regular season league matches before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Sea Gulls. During the contest, McCann led the Captains with 14 kills, while Katie Piper added 13. On the defensive end, Close pocketed 15 digs, and Garrison contributed three blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
 
Mary Washington enters Friday riding a 14-match winning streak. The Eagles have been led by a potent attack, which ranks eighth in the nation in assists-per-set (12.78) and 10th in kills-per-set (13.57). On an individual level, Emma Olson ranks 22nd in the nation and first in the CAC with 733 assists, while Skyler Sisk leads the league with a .336 hitting percentage. Defensively, Jenna Yost has a 3.48 digs-per-set mark, while Sisk has a team-high 63 blocks.
 
Southwestern opened the 2016 campaign on a 19-match winning streak, including a pair of triumphs over top-10 opponents. Although the Tigers saw their run snapped in a grueling five-set decision against No. 20 Trinity on Saturday, they remained in the top-five nationally in the latest AVCA poll. Overall this season, Southwestern ranks eighth in the country with a 19.95 digs-per-set average, while Andie Alford leads the team with 337 digs. On the offensive end, Kate Mitchell has 224 kills and a .272 hitting percentage, while Nikki Welch is sixth in the NCAA with a 10.65 assists-per-set mark.
 
Johns Hopkins has won eight of its last nine matches, including five straight on the road. The Blue Jays will take on No. 10 Juniata on Friday before making their way to Newport News. Hopkins currently ranks among the top-50 nationally with a .227 hitting percentage and a 2.49 aces-per-set average. Individually, Elizabeth Wuerstle has a team-high 178 kills, 32 aces, and .298 hitting percentage. Esther Hong has anchored the back row with a 3.72 digs-per-set mark, while Hannah Korslund leads the way with 37 blocks.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
CNU and Mary Washington have met 30 times with the Eagles holding a 21-9 edge in the all-time series. The two squads last met on October 14, 2015 with the Captains notching a 3-0 victory in Newport News.
 
Southwestern has faced Christopher Newport seven times and holds a 5-2 edge in the series. The Tigers won the last battle, 3-1, during the Emory Tournament in 2013.
 
Johns Hopkins and CNU have only met twice with both teams registering one victory. Christopher Newport won the last battle with a 3-0 triumph in 2014.
 
UP NEXT
 
Following this weekend's action, Christopher Newport will remain at home for a Tuesday night showdown with Gallaudet at 7 p.m.
 
---CNU---