NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport Volleyball team returns to the Freeman Center for the 2022 Captains Classic and their matches of the 2022 season. The Captains will host four matches this weekend in Newport News on September 2nd and 3rd. 

Match Details

The Captains open up their Captains Classic on Friday at 3:00pm against Hollins and play later at 7:00pm against Juniata. On Saturday, CNU faces Lewis & Clark at 11:00am followed by UW-Oshkosh. All of the Captains' matches will be streamed on CNU All Access.

Last Time Out

CNU finished the 2021 season with a 22-10 record and a Coast-to-Coast conference title. The Captains topped Mary Washington and Salisbury in a C2C tournament that saw Sammy Carroll take home tournament MVP honors. Mackenzie Wright and Maddie Carter joined Carroll as the three CNU representatives on the team. The same trio were named to the C2C All-Conference teams prior to the tournament. All three Captains return for the 2022 season as they begin their quest for a 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

By The Numbers

1258

CNU setter Sammy Carroll finished 2021 with 1258 assists, the sixth highest season total in Captains history. Carroll ranks in the top 20 on the active leaders in career assists with 2526.

Series History

Christopher Newport is 6-0 all-time against Hollins, most recently winning a 3-0 home opener. The Captains are 5-11 against Juniata including last year's loss on the road. CNU has never faced Lewis & Clark, but are 1-2 against UW-Oshkosh and won the most recent meeting with the Titans when they last visited the Freeman Center in 2010.

Scouting Hollins

Hollins was picked last in the ODAC preseason poll, which is where they finished in the 2021 standings with an 0-11 conference record. Setter Zoe Brooks returns after leading the team with 218 assists in 2021. She also was third on the team last season with 18 service aces. They'll open their season against CNU in Friday's first match.

Scouting the Eagles

Juniata opened the season ranked #4 in the AVCA Top 25. The Eagles are coming off a historic 2021 campaign, winning their 40th consecutive conference championship and 14th consecutive Landmark Conference Championship, being crowned NCAA Regional Champions, making the program's 26th Final Four appearance. They finished 32-2 in 2021. Landmark Conference rookie of the year Olivia Foley returns after finishing the season ranked 10th in the country in assists per set. They'll open their season against CNU at 7:00pm on Friday.

Scouting the Pioneers

Lewis & Clark finished 2021 with a record of 7-12 and dropped five of their last six matches. New head coach Erin Labasan will look to right the ship with a young team. The 2022 Pioneers return just five upperclassmen, but that includes kills and ace leader Izzy Willis and digs leader Katie Shimaura. Lewis & Clark open their season against UW-Oshkosh on Friday before facing the Captains on Saturday.

Scouting the Titans

UW-Oshkosh went 19-12 last season, making the semifinals of the WIAC tournament to eventual national champion UW-Eau Claire. The Titans return almost their entire team from 2021, and all seven starters including leading scorers Riley Kindt and Carissa Sundholm. UW-Oshkosh was picked fourth in the WIAC preseason poll and opens their season against Lewis & Clark on Friday ahead of Saturday's match against CNU.