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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 20th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off a busy weekend on Friday with a 6 p.m. match against York (Pa.) before capping off its regular season home slate on Saturday with a tri-match against Washington & Lee and Penn State Harrisburg at the Freeman Center.
 
On Saturday, the Captains will also hold their annual Senior Day festivities, including a pre-match celebration of the squad's fourth-year standouts prior to their noon battle with the Generals.
 
Entering Friday's bout, Christopher Newport holds an 18-7 record, including a 3-2 mark in conference action. York (Pa.) sits at 20-7 overall and 3-3 in the CAC. Meanwhile, Washington & Lee is 19-5, and Penn State Harrisburg is 6-14 and 1-5 in the conference. The Lions will face Mary Washington on Friday before making their way to Newport News.
 
For those fans unable to make it to this week's action, live stats and a video stream will be available 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
 
On Saturday, Christopher Newport will celebrate one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history. Together, Rachel Close, Evelyn Harper, Maddie McCann, Hannah Miller, and Briana Sutton have pieced together a tremendous run with the Captains. Since they arrived in Newport News, CNU has won three conference championships and an NCAA regional title in 2014.
 
Along the net, McCann, Miller, and Sutton have anchored the front row since 2013. McCann, an All-Region outside hitter,  has averaged 2.47 kills per set in 113 career matches. Miller, who ranks among the program's all-time top-10 in kills, hitting percentage, and blocks, is a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference selection. Sutton is also a two-time All-American and ranks 10th in career kills and second in hitting percentage among outside hitters.
 
Just as accomplished on the back row, Close and Harper have excelled on the defensive side of the ball. Close currently ranks fifth all-time with 1400 career digs and seventh with a 3.21 digs-per-set average. Meanwhile, Harper has pocketed 570 digs and sports a .952 reception percentage, which ranks as the team's top mark over the past four years.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
On Tuesday, Christopher Newport swept Gallaudet, 3-0, in a non-conference showdown at the Freeman Center. Against the BIson, the Captains hit .310 after drilling 32 kills on 87 attempts. Katelyn Newsome led the way with seven kills on 12 attacks. Riley Garrison and Katie Piper also hammered home six kills on 11 swings. Meanwhile, Close picked up 16 digs, Newsome contributed six blocks, and Hope Webb handed out 16 assists and three aces.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
 
York (Pa.) comes into Friday's match on the a three-game winning streak, including victories over Southern Virginia and Frostburg State. On an individual level, Eryn Brady ranks eighth in the CAC with a .282 hitting percentage and leads the team with 203 kills. Equally effective up front, Madyson Whitcomb leads the conference with 104 blocks, while Alexis Harbold has anchored the back row defense with 393 digs.
 
Washington & Lee also enters the weekend on a three-match roll. Sophomore Meg Guignon leads the Generals with 253 kills, while Elly Cosgrove has 204. Just as strong on the defensive side, Mackenzie Shand has 112 blocks, including 28 solo stops. Additionally, Katie Volk is averaging 3.51 digs-per-set, while Elena West has dished out 609 assists.
 
Penn State Harrisburg enters Friday against Mary Washington on a seven-match skid. The Lions have featured an impressive youth movement as freshman Brittany Wolf leads the squad with 167 kills, while fellow first-year standout Malika Sharifi has a team-high 37 blocks. Among the veterans, junior Casey Stump has 30 aces and a 7.62 assists-per-set average, while Kari Ammerman has a 3.70 digs-per-set mark.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
York (Pa.) and CNU have met three times with the Captains holding a 3-0 record in the all-time series. Last year, the Captains posted a 3-0 victory behind a 16-dig, 11-kill outing by Sutton.
 
Washington & Lee and CNU have squared off 30 times with the Captains holding a slim 16-14 edge in the series. Last year, the Captains won a pair of three-set decisions.
 
Penn State Harrisburg has battled Christopher Newport three times with CNU winning all three decisions. Last year, the Captains registered a 3-0 victory in Pennsylvania. During that match, CNU established a new single-match program record with a .604 hitting percentage.
 
UP NEXT
 
Following this weekend's action, Christopher Newport will hit the road to wrap up the regular season. The Captains will kick off their travels at St. Mary's (Md.) on October 28 at 7 p.m.
 
---CNU---