Live Stats // Video Stream

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 13th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will continue its nine-match homestand on Friday at 7 p.m. when the Captains host Salisbury in a Capital Athletic Conference bout at the Freeman Center.
 
Entering the match-up, CNU sits at 16-4 on the season, including 3-0 in league action. Salisbury comes in with a 13-5 record and a similarly pristine 2-0 mark in conference play.
 
For those fans unable to make it to the contest, live stats and a video stream of the action 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
 
Entering the bout, CNU features a well-balanced team that has found success on both sides of the ball. The Captains currently rank 17th in the NCAA with a 13.20 kills-per-set average. Meanwhile, on the other end, Christopher Newport leads the CAC with a 2.06 blocks-per-set mark while limiting the opposition to a .125 hitting percentage.
 
On an individual level, Hannah Miller is 29th in the NCAA with 71 total blocks, while Riley Garrison is 53rd in the country - and 10th among freshmen - with a .336 hitting percentage. Along with the nationally-ranked standouts, Maddie McCann has a team-best 3.15 kills-per-set average, while Hope Webb is averaging 9.48 assists per frame. Defensively, Rachel Close has starred on the back row with a team-high 303 digs.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
On Wednesday, Christopher Newport handed Wesley a 3-0 setback behind a well-balanced team effort. Briana Sutton led the squad with 10 kills on 18 swings, while Katie Piper clubbed nine on 15. Webb also contributed 22 assists and three aces in only two sets of work, and Tylar McGill added 12 helpers in the third stanza. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Close pocketed 12 digs, Miller contributed three blocks, and the duo of Cat Boyle and Evelyn Harper combined to go 13-for-13 on serve-receive.
 
SCOUTING THE SEA GULLS
 
Salisbury has ripped off six-straight victories, including CAC triumphs over York (Pa.) and Penn State Harrisburg last week. So far this season, the Sea Gulls have been led by reigning All-American Katie Stouffer, who leads the CAC and ranks 10th nationally with a 4.49 kills-per-set average. She also sits among the top-20 nationally in total kills and points-per-set. Defensively, fellow senior Shannon Russell is averaging a team-best 4.89 digs per set, while Sydney Davis has 50 blocks, including 11 solo stops.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
CNU and Salisbury have met 31 times with the Captains holding an 18-13 lead in the series. The two programs have met in the CAC Championship match during each of the last three seasons with Christopher Newport notching a 3-0 victory in the 2015 title bout.
 
UP NEXT
 
Following Friday's action, CNU will have the next week off before returning to the Freeman Center for a 6 p.m. battle against Mary Washington on October 14.
 
---CNU---