NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- As the 21st-ranked team in the nation, the Christopher Newport volleyball team received two first-place votes and was picked to finish second in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll. The Captains were topped only by four points and two first-place votes received by the favorites, Mary Washington. 

Mary Washington led the poll with 34 points and four first-place votes while CNU took 30 points and two first-place votes. UC Santa Cruz (27 pts) got the remaining first-place vote to finish third in the poll. Salisbury (23 pts) was picked next followed by Pratt (14) and Mount Mary (13). Rounding out the 2023 rankings was Warren Wilson (6 pts). 

Though Mary Washington gained more votes in the C2C poll, they rank one spot behind the Captains in the AVCA poll, coming in at 22nd. CNU garnered 415 points while Mary Washington took 299.

The Captains competed in their 15th straight NCAA Championship in 2022. CNU finished the season with a 23-14 overall record including an impressive 14-4 record in the Freeman Center. Earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, the Captains took down SUNY Morrisville in the opening round and beat No. 24 Ithaca in the second round before falling to Juniata in the regional final, who went on to win the national championship.

All-Conference setter Sammy Carroll is back for her fifth year along with returning Rookie of the Year Alyssa Dozier. The two will serve as team captains for the 2023 squad. Last season's digs leader Noelle Starr also returns after posting 442 digs last season. 

The Captains' schedule opens next weekend with the Captains Classic played in the Freeman Center on September 1 -2. Christopher Newport will open on Friday, September 1 against Muskingum at 3:00 p.m. before also hosting the Wisconsin-Stevens Point later that day.