NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport Volleyball hits the road again this weekend for the Boston Invite, where they will face three strong opponents: Tufts, Calvin, and MIT. Coming off a 2-1 showing at the Marymount Invitational, the Captains are looking to build momentum as they continue their early-season schedule in Beantown.

Match Details

Christopher Newport will begin the weekend at Tufts on Friday, September 13, with the first match against the Jumbos at 4:00 p.m., followed by a matchup with nationally-ranked Calvin later in the evening. The Captains will wrap up their weekend against another ranked team in MIT at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14. The matches against Tufts and Calvin will be streamed live for free on YouTube, while the showdown with MIT will be available on FloSports, which requires a subscription.

Last Time Out

Last weekend, Christopher Newport went 2-1 during their trip to Arlington, VA, with victories over Marymount and Schreiner and a hard-fought loss to Heidelberg. Fifth-year standout Macy Burk led the way offensively, posting 35 kills across the three matches while hitting an impressive .319. Burk recorded a season-best 13 kills in two different matches, including a dominant performance against Schreiner, where she hit 13 kills with a .500 hitting percentage in a 3-0 sweep. Freshman Audrey Stenger was a defensive anchor for the Captains, recording double-digit digs in each match and making no reception errors in two of the three contests. Stenger also proved to be a threat from the service line, delivering seven aces, including five during a four-set match against Heidelberg.

By The Numbers

38.24 - Christopher Newport ranks 31st nationally with 38.24 attacks per set, showcasing a balanced and aggressive offensive approach. Leading the charge is Samantha Dorn, who has recorded 172 total attacks through the first six matches of the season. Dorn is one of four Captains with over 100 attacks, joined by Alyssa Dozier (151), Avery Hanly (146), and Macy Burk (127).

Series History

Christopher Newport holds a 2-0 all-time record against Tufts with victories in 2012 and 2015. The Captains have yet to secure a win against Calvin, with a 0-3 record and their most recent match occurring in 2019. This weekend's matchup against MIT will mark the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

Scouting the Jumbos

Tufts has had a solid start to their season with a 3-2 record. They have secured victories over Colorado College, Roger Williams, and Worcester Polytechnic, while falling to nationally ranked teams Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Washington (St. Louis). Emma Heckman has been a standout performer for Tufts, leading the team with 44 kills and 17 blocks so far this season.

Scouting the Knights

Calvin is ranked 17th in this week's AVCA poll and is coming off a 3-0 week. Last week, they only dropped one set across victories over Wittenberg, Ohio Wesleyan, and Denison. Tryna Vander Zwaag has been a key player for the Knights, leading the team with 118 assists and 14 aces.

Scouting the Engineers

The MIT Engineers are ranked 10th in this week's AVCA poll and recently secured the MIT Invitational title for the first time since 2021. Graduate student Consecrata Rozario was named Tournament MVP, totaling 35 kills with an impressive .607 hitting percentage and seven blocks.