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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport volleyball team will open up the 2018 campaign on Friday when the squad hosts the annual Captains Classic at the Freeman Center.
                         
During the two-day tournament, CNU will face a busy schedule with a pair of doubleheaders. On Friday, the Captains will battle Susquehanna at 4 p.m. before squaring off with Muhlenberg at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Christopher Newport will face Keystone at noon before wrapping up the weekend against No. 24 Stevenson at 4 p.m.
 
For fans unable to attend the tournament, all four CNU matches will be streamed live through CNU All-Access. A direct link can be found at the top of this release and on the volleyball schedule page.
 
The Captains enter the new year after polishing off a solid 2017 campaign. Last season, the squad registered a 28-4 record while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, Christopher Newport captured the Capital Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.
 
CNU returns an impressive collection of veteran talent, including three All-Conference performers. Senior Josie Lucernoni was an All-League, All-State, and All-Region honoree last year after anchoring the back row with a 4.68 digs-per-set average. Meanwhile, fellow All-CAC picks Katie Piper and Riley Garrison starred along the net. Piper averaged a team-best 3.16 kills per set in 2017, while Garrison ranked 14th in the country with 119 blocks.
 
Along with the decorated returners, Abby Oren and Katie Crofford both laced at least 200 kills last year, while Megan O'Hara had 135 blasts to go along with 70 blocks. Tiaralyn McBride also appeared in all 32 matches in 2017 while establishing herself as one of the conference's top servers with 37 aces.
 
On the other side of the court, the Captains will test themselves against top-flight competition right out of the gate. Friday's twin bill features bouts against two teams that won at least 20 matches last season. Muhlenberg compiled a 24-6 ledger in 2017 and welcomes back three All-Conference performers from last year, including first-team pick Kelly Tornetta. Meanwhile, Susquehanna is looking to build upon a 21-12 campaign with reigning All-League picks Sydney Portale and Hannah Lyons anchoring the roster.
 
On Saturday, Christopher Newport will battle a pair of teams that were named the preseason favorites in their respective conferences. Keystone is the favorite in the CSAC after finishing with a 14-17 record last year, including an 8-3 ledger in league action. The Giants return seven upperclassmen, including All-League middle blocker Amanda Hardy. Meanwhile, Stevenson, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, stands as the favorites in the MAC Commonwealth after compiling a 33-2 record in 2017. The Mustangs will be led by returning All-Americans Katie Leftridge and Moriah Savage.
 
---CNU---