NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will host the Capital Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday at noon when the Captains welcome Mary Washington to town for the title bout at the Freeman Center.
 
CNU advanced to the championship after upending Salisbury, 3-1, in the semifinals on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mary Washington punched its ticket with a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia. The Captains are the league's top seed and boast a 26-3 overall record, while the Eagles are the No. 2 seed and carry a 19-9 mark.
 
Saturday's action is a rematch of the 2016 title bout, which Mary Washington captured in Fredericksburg. Overall, the two teams have won each of the last four league titles as CNU swept the crowns from 2013-15 before UMW snatched last year's trophy.
 
Entering the weekend, Christopher Newport leads the conference with a 2.22 blocks-per-set average while limiting the opposition to a league-low .101 hitting percentage. On an individual level, Riley Garrison and Katelyn Newsome are tied for the conference lead with 105 blocks apiece. Coming on strong late in the year, Garrison established a new program record with 12 rejections in a three-set tilt last week at York (Pa.), while Newsome added 10 blocks of her own against Salisbury in the CAC semifinals.
 
Along with the work up front, Josie Lucernoni has a 4.67 digs-per-set average, which currently stands as the third-highest rate in program history. The junior has pocketed at least 10 digs in 23 straight appearances. That run is one shy of matching Rachel Close's all-time school record.
 
On the offensive side, Newsome stands fourth in the conference with a .285 hitting percentage, and Katie Piper leads the squad with a 3.05 kills-per-set average. Meanwhile, Katie Crofford has 188 kills and a team-high 35 aces. She has also registered a team-best .976 reception percentage.
 
On the other side of the net, Mary Washington has been led by sophomores Peyton Dunow and Savannah Powers. Dunow ranks fourth in the conference with a 3.66 kills-per-set average, while Powers is fifth with a 3.47 mark. Equally impressive on the offensive end, Skyler Sisk sits second in the CAC with a .301 hitting percentage.
 
In addition to the standouts along the net, Jenna Yost has a team-high 4.30 digs-per-set mark, while Wren Berry ranks second in the Capital with 967 assists. The freshman is averaging 9.87 helpers per frame while also punching 27 aces. Ryan Cho has a team-high 33 aces as well.
 
Mary Washington and CNU last met on October 12 when the Captains registered a 3-2 victory in Fredericksburg. Piper came through with a double-double after collecting 15 kills and 15 digs, while Tylar McGill contributed 24 assists and 12 digs. UMW was led by Powers, who roped a match-high 17 kills, while Dunow contributed 12 blasts and 22 digs.
 
Overall, Mary Washington holds a 23-10 edge in the all-time series.
 
The winner of Saturday's match will lock up the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will begin next week.
 
---CNU---