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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will continue its homestand on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Captains host Virginia Wesleyan in a non-conference battle at the Freeman Center.
Entering the showdown, CNU stands at 12-3, including a 6-1 record at home. Meanwhile, Virginia Wesleyan is 8-5 overall and 5-4 on the road.
Christopher Newport has been a force along the net so far this season as the squad currently ranks second in the conference and 27th nationally with 110 total blocks.
Riley Garrison has paced the front-row defense as the sophomore stands 17th in the NCAA with a 1.18 blocks-per-set average.
Katelyn Newsome also has 42 total rejections this year, while
Megan O'Hara has 36.
Meanwhile, on the back row,
Josie Lucernoni boasts a team-high 4.37 digs-per-set average, which also places her fifth in the CAC. The junior libero has pocketed at least 10 digs in each of her last 12 appearances, including four 20-dig efforts. Additionally,
Katie Piper and
Katie Crofford are averaging over 2.00 digs per frame, while
Abby Oren sports a team-best .978 reception percentage.
Offensively, Piper leads the Captains with a 3.00 kills-per-set average, while Newsome, Crofford, and Oren have all clubbed at least 100 kills this year as well. Newsome also has a team-best .280 hitting percentage, and
Tylar McGill has handed out 268 assists.
On the other side of the court, Virginia Wesleyan has won three of its last four outings, including a five-set thriller against Roanoke on Saturday. Similar to the Captains, the Marlins have been effective on the defensive side of the ball as the team ranks ninth in the country with a 19.75 digs-per-set mark. Allison Mackley has paced the team with 321 total digs, which ranks 14th in the NCAA.
Along with their libero, the Marlins have received big contributions from Kristina Scott and Doneisha Hall. Scott leads the team with 127 kills, while Hall has pumped 117. Both players have also contributed 21 blocks, while Amber Matalus leads the team with 37 rejections.
Tuesday's match-up will mark the 16th meeting between Virginia Wesleyan and CNU. The Captains currently hold a 15-0 record against the Marlins, including a 3-0 victory in Virginia Beach last year.
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