NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After over a week off from action, the 20th-ranked Christopher Newport men's tennis team is set to return in a pivotal conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon. The Captains (9-5, 3-0) will host Salisbury University (8-6, 3-1) at 3:30 pm at the Eyre Courts on campus, with conference tournament seeding implications weighing heavily on the match. 

Since their last matchup against nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins, the Captains moved up to No. 20 in the nation and are slotted in as the No. 3 team in the Atlantic South. Salisbury is ranked No. 12 in the region and comes into Wednesday's match after a pair of conference wins over the weekend. 

The two teams have been evenly matched throughout CNU tennis history, with the Sea Gulls holding a slight 10-8 advantage in the all-time series. Since joining the CAC, the Captains hold a 3-1 advantage in the series, with both teams boasting one win over the other in postseason play. 

One of the top matchups to watch on Wednesday will pit a pair of regionally-ranked singles players against eachother. Barring a change in the starting lineup for either team, Salisbury will send senior Eric Spangler, ranked No. 10 in the Atlantic South, up against Christopher Newport sophomore David Reed, ranked No. 7 in the region. Spangler is 12-1 this season while Reed is 10-7 with a 2-1 mark against regionally-ranked opponents. Among probable starters, the Captains will also employ another regionally-ranked player, No. 17 Justin Cerny, against another Salisbury senior, Shanon Gunther. 

In doubles action, both teams feature one regionally-ranked tandem with junior Steven Boslet and senior Chiraag Shetty slotted in at No. 5 for the Captains, and Spangler/Gunther ranked No. 6 for the Sea Gulls. 

Action will begin at 3:30 pm in Newport News, with full scores and a recap available at CNUsports.com. Follow @CNUtennis on Twitter for in-match updates.