NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will kick off a three-match home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Captains host St. Mary's (Md.) in a non-conference battle at the Freeman Center.
 
The Captains, who remained 23rd in the AVCA Poll for the second straight week, enter the mid-week match-up at 19-3 overall, including 10-1 at the Freeman Center. The squad has been bolstered by its work along the net as CNU currently ranks 14th in the NCAA with a 2.10 blocks-per-set average. Christopher Newport has also limited its opposition to a .103 hitting percentage, which stands as the 28th-best mark in the country.
 
On an individual level, Riley Garrison leads the conference and sits 19th nationally with a 1.07 blocks-per-set average. She is also one of three Captains with at least 50 total rejections this season. Garrison leads the way with 78 blocks, while Katelyn Newsome has sent back 72 attack attempts. Megan O'Hara has 51 blocks as well.
 
On the back row, Josie Lucernoni has a 4.58 digs-per-set average and has collected at least 10 digs during each of her last 19 appearances. That stands as the second-longest streak in program history. Meanwhile, Katie Piper and Katie Crofford are averaging over two digs per set as well. Piper also boasts a team-best 2.96 kills-per-set mark, while Crofford leads CNU with 29 aces.
 
Facing off against the Captains for the second time this season, St. Mary's has dropped its last 11 matches and stands at 3-18 overall. However, all three of the team's victories have come on the road this year.
 
The Seahawks have been led by Marissa Dangler, who ranks first in the CAC with a 5.51 digs-per-set average. She plucked 17 digs during the three-set loss to CNU last month. On the offensive end, Meghan Kelley has a team-high 170 kills, while Hannah Krauss has 106. Mia Griffiths has helped out with a team-leading 6.36 assists-per-set average as well.
 
In 18 all-time meetings between the two programs, Christopher Newport holds an 11-7 record. Last month, CNU posted a 3-0 victory at the Freeman Center. During that bout, Abby Oren paced the Captains with 11 kills, while Crofford had seven blasts and a .438 hitting percentage. On the other side, Kelley had eight kills for the Seahawks, while Griffiths handed out 21 assists.
 
---CNU---