NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport will travel to Arlington, Virginia this weekend for a trio of matches, hosted by former Capital Athletic Conference opponent Marymount.

Match Details

The Captains open their weekend on Friday, September 6, with a 4:00 p.m. match against Heidelberg, followed by a 6:30 p.m. contest against Marymount, the tournament host. On Saturday, September 7, CNU will face Schreiner at 11:30 a.m. All matches will take place in Arlington, Virginia. Fans can watch all the matches live on the Atlantic East Network.

Last Time Out

Christopher Newport went 1-2 during the opening weekend of the season. The Captains secured a win over William Paterson but fell to No. 1 Juniata and No. 4 Johns Hopkins. Junior Alyssa Dozier had 27 kills and a .286 hitting average across the three matches. Her top performance came against William Paterson, where she recorded 16 kills. Meanwhile, senior Noelle Starr was a defensive stalwart and recorded double-digit digs in all three matches, including a season-best 17 digs against No. 1 Juniata, leading the team with 44 digs for the weekend.

By The Numbers

8.80 - Alyssa Vitale made an immediate impact in her CNU debut with 88 assists over three matches, an average of 8.80 per set. She now ranks in the national top 50 in assists per set.

Series History

Christopher Newport will face Heidelberg and Schreiner for the first time in program history this weekend. The Captains have a longstanding rivalry with Marymount, having played them 31 times. CNU holds a 17-14 advantage in the series and has won the last two matchups, including a 3-0 victory in their most recent encounter in 2022.

Scouting the Student Princes

Heidelberg University has had a mixed start to the season, going 2-3 in their opening weekend of play. The Student Princes are led by a group of four seniors, including rightside hitter Grace Porter, who has accumulated over 400 career kills and was third on the team in blocks last season. Lexi Wachtman, another key senior, ranked third in service aces, fifth in digs, and fifth in kills last fall.

Scouting the Saints

Marymount University has had a challenging start to the season, with a 1-3 record from their opening weekend. The Saints' lone victory came against Geneva College. Senior setter Natalie Bialecki stood out, earning Atlantic East Conference Specialty Player of the Week honors after averaging 7.94 assists per set, adding eight service aces, and contributing 31 digs. Despite Bialecki's strong individual performances, Marymount struggled in their subsequent matches, falling short in their remaining three contests.

Scouting the Mountaineers

Schreiner University had a solid start to the season, finishing 2-1 in their opening weekend. The Mountaineers secured victories over Lewis & Clark and St. Thomas (TX), but were defeated by Hendrix. Giana Hilliard has been a standout performer, leading the team with 35 kills across the three matches.