MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will continue Capital Athletic Conference action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Captains travel to Penn St. Harrisburg for the start of a four-match road swing.
                             
Following their league bout against the Lions, the Captains will remain on the road for a twin bill against Catholic and Lynchburg in Washington, D.C. on Friday before heading to Mary Washington next Wednesday. Friday's doubleheader opens against Catholic at 4 p.m.
 
Entering the week, Christopher Newport boasts a 15-3 record and a 10-match winning streak. The squad also sits at 3-0 in league play. Meanwhile, Penn St. Harrisburg is 9-11 with a 1-2 mark in conference action, while Catholic is 15-10 and Lynchburg is 8-10.
 
On the league level, Riley Garrison currently ranks third among conference performers with a .309 hitting percentage and a 0.94 blocks-per-set average. Josie Lucernoni is also fifth with a 4.51 digs-per-set mark. Additionally, the squad has received significant contributions from its freshman class. Mackenzie Wright is second in the league in blocks-per-set (0.95), and Lauren Tracy is third in assists-per-frame (8.25).
 
As a team, CNU ranks first in the league in hitting percentage (.223), second in blocks-per-set (1.95), and second in digs-per-set (16.65). The team's 12.12 kills-per-set average also leads all conference teams.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg enters Thursday on a three-match skid, including 3-0 setbacks against league foes Salisbury and Southern Virginia. Despite the stumble, Kristin Waring leads the CAC with a 0.69 aces-per-set average. Brittany Wolf is also fifth in hitting percentage with a .290 mark. Additionally, Wolf leads Penn St. Harrisburg with 155 total kills, while Katelyn Hossler has a team-best 3.41 digs-per-set mark.
 
Catholic, who plays Elizabethtown on Wednesday, has won two of its last three outings. Sophomore Patricia Martinez has paced the Cardinals with a 3.64 kills-per-set average. Mackenzie Collier and Isabelle Cooper are also averaging over two kills per frame. On the defensive side, Caroline Kelly has compiled a 5.03 digs-per-set average, and Cooper has a team-high 48 blocks.
 
Lynchburg, who travels to Southern Virginia on Thursday, has won three of its last five matches, including a 3-2 triumph against Stevenson. Sydney Frink currently boasts a team-high 3.31 kills-per-set mark while also collecting 2.23 digs per frame. Erin Farina and Katie Cornelius are both averaging over six assists per set to help pace the attack. On the back row, Lauren Stanford leads the way with 345 total digs.
 
Christopher Newport is a perfect 5-0 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg. Meanwhile, Catholic is 14-9 all-time against CNU, and Lynchburg holds a 10-5 edge in the series with the Captains.
 
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