NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport Volleyball will be seeking their sixth CAC Championship in seven years when they battle second-seeded Mary Washington for the fourth consecutive time in the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Freeman Center. The winner will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

CNU has hoisted the league trophy in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018, defeating Mary Washington in the last two with UMW earning the upper hand on the Captains in 2016.

The Captains earned the #1 seed after sweeping through the CAC with a 10-0 record, 24-8 overall, as they surrendered just two sets along the way, one to York and one to Mary Washington. They advanced to the championship game after defeating #4 seed Southern Virginia in three sets, 25-12, 25-22, 25-23, on Thursday night.

In league play, CNU ranked first or second in kills, kills per set, hitting percentage, assists, assists per set, service aces, service aces per set, solo blocks, total blocks, blocks per set, points, and points per set. Additionally, the Captains had numerous individuals ranked highly among the league leaders in conference competition, most notably Sammy Carroll lead the league in assists and Mackenzie Wright led the conference in blocks per set.

The Captains' efforts saw them win numerous awards with the release of the All-CAC Volleyball teams. Sammy Carroll became just the third CAC Volleyball player to be named both Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season while the coaches were named the Coaching Staff of the Year. Additionally, first-team honors went to Carroll, Katie Piper, and Riley Garrison while Katie Crofford was tabbed to the second-team.

The Eagles earned the #2 seed after going 8-2 in the league with its two losses both coming at the hands of the Captains. They went 16-12 overall. They advanced to the championship match after defeating Salisbury 25-17, 25-16, 25-17 on Thursday night.

Against CAC competition, Mary Washington ranked high in numerous categories, including first in total blocks and second or third in kills per set, hitting percentage, assists per set, aces per set, solo blocks, assisted blocks, blocks per set, and points per set. In CAC games only, Powers led the conference in kills per set and points per set while Krista Rodgers paced the league in hitting percentage.

Mary Washington saw Peyton Dunow and Savannah Powers receive first-team All-CAC nods while Wren Berry and Tenley Hares were picked to the second team.

Christopher Newport went 2-0 this year against the Eagles winning at home 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 on October 5 then upending them again on October 19 by a score of 25-13, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22.

Katie Piper posted 17 kills in the first matchup while Mackenzie Wright added three blocks. Sammy Carroll had team-highs of 38 assists and nine digs. Savannah Powers led UMW with 11 kills, Kendal Hall had 14 digs, and Wren Berry added 27 assists.

Piper added another 14 kills in the rematch while Mackenzie Wright blocked a CAC season-high 10 blocks. Rebecca Frey contributed 14 digs and Sammy Carroll 35 assists. Powers once again led the Eagles with 14 kills, Kendal Hall had 24 digs, Krista Rodgers rejected four shots, and Wren Berry distributed 38 assists.