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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Closing out a busy home stand, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will host a pair of doubleheaders at the Freeman Center this weekend beginning with a twin bill against St. Mary's (Md.) and Marymount on Friday at 5 p.m.
                                          
On Saturday, the Captains will wrap up the week with a doubleheader against Randolph and Messiah. Action is slated to begin at 11 a.m.
 
Entering Friday, CNU currently sits at 11-3 overall, including 2-0 in league action. St. Mary's (Md.) is 12-8 with an 0-2 ledger in the Capital Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, Marymount is 17-2, Randolph is 5-11, and Messiah is 10-10.
 
For those fans unable to attend the contests, Christopher Newport will provide a broadcast of the action with Austin Urch and Brooke Stanley on the call. A direct link can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
 
The Captains won their sixth straight match on Tuesday after outlasting Bridgewater, 3-2. The squad dropped the first two sets but rebounded to sweep the final three on the way to the victory. During the comeback, Hope Webb dished out 16 assists over the last three sets, while Lauren Tracy finished the match with 30 helpers and 13 digs. Making some history, Josie Lucernoni also pocketed 25 digs, including the 1000th of her career. She is just the 13th Captain to reach that mark.
 
So far this season, Lucernoni ranks sixth in the Capital with a 4.55 digs-per-set average. The reigning CAC Volleyball Player of the Week has been especially effective in recent appearances with a 5.93 digs-per-set rate over the past four matches. She has also converted 104 consecutive reception attempts dating back to September 19.
 
Along with Lucernoni, Tracy ranks second in the CAC with a 9.05 assists-per-set average, while Katie Piper is third with a 2.85 kills-per-set mark. Equally effective on the defensive side, Mackenzie Wright is second in the conference with a 0.87 blocks-per-set rate, and Riley Garrison sits fourth with a 0.83 mark.
 
St. Mary's (Md.) comes into Friday after snapping a three-match skid with a 3-2 win at Notre Dame (Md.) on Tuesday. On an individual level, Meghan Kelley leads the Capital with 206 kills, while Emily Benedict boasts a league-high 46 aces. Mia Griffiths is also fourth in the conference with an 8.04 assists-per-set average, including 45 helpers in Tuesday's victory.
 
Marymount enters Friday on a seven-match run and has won 17 of its last 18 outings. The team's only blemish came against No. 7 Juniata on September 22. The Saints have been led by Caroline Hanson, who ranks 15th in the NCAA with a 4.71 points-per-set average. Her 47 aces also place her 10th in the country. Meanwhile, Myah Condrey is 26th in the nation with a .373 hitting percentage, and Maggie Viniard is 29th with 639 total assists.
 
Randolph, who plays at Virginia Wesleyan on Friday, has lost its last two outings, including a 3-0 setback at Roanoke. Autumn Troxell currently leads the WildCats with a 3.25 kills-per-set average. Mackenzie Ambrose has also unloaded 120 blasts this season. On the defensive side, Sam Verhaagen is averaging 4.28 digs per set, and Taja Hunley leads the front row with 35 blocks, including five solo stops.
 
Messiah snapped a three-match skid in its last outing with a 3-0 victory over Lycoming. The Falcons feature a well-balanced attack with three players averaging over two kills per set. Lanae Hunsberger leads the squad with 161 kills, while Kate Preudhomme and Mary Underman have 150 apiece. Underman also has a team-high .395 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Amanda Dahlman has headlined the defense with a 5.30 digs-per-set rate.
 
---CNU---