NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 2016 Christopher Newport men's tennis schedule features ten teams ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Preseason National Rankings, and the Captains waste no time getting right into the thick of top competition. The 37th-ranked Captains will open the season this Sunday, February 7 at 10:00 am, welcoming in 22nd-ranked N.C. Wesleyan College.

The non-conference match will be played at Centre Court Racquet Club.

As former conference rivals, the Captains and Battling Bishops have been long-time rivals with CNU holding a 20-11 advantage in the all-time series. Christopher Newport last defeated N.C. Wesleyan in 2008 as part of a 20-4 conference championship season. 

This year, Christopher Newport welcomes back nearly it's entire roster from last season, including four All-Conference selections and 2015 VaSID and CAC Rookie of the Year David Reed. In his second year, Reed will start the year ranked No. 21 regionally after posting a 4-1 singles mark in the fall. Junior Arttu Fiva led all Captains with a 6-2 record in three events this fall, while sophomore Justin Cerny and rookie William Trang each added five. 

In doubles play, CNU won nearly 62% of their matches this Fall, led by a 5-1 record between Steven Boslet and Chiraag Shetty. In one appearance together, Reed and Cerny were 3-0 as a pair. 

N.C. Wesleyan comes into the season opener ranked No. 5 in the region as a team with a pair of singles players and one doubles tandem ranked in the Atlantic South.

A full recap and scores will be available at CNUsports.com following the action.