HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- As usual, CNU volleyball coach Lindsay Birch challenged her team early in the schedule. And understandably, the results were mixed. But the Captains have made clear progress. Heading into this weekend's trip to Huntingdon, Pa., for the Juniata College Asics Invitational, CNU (6-3) has won a season-best four consecutive matches behind improved balance and efficiency.
 
Six players — Alyssa Dozier, Carley Coghill, Samatha Dorn, Simara Alexander, Megan James and Avery Hanly — averaged between 4.5 and 9.3 kills in that stretch. The team's hitting percentage was .223, a nice jump from .175 in its first five matches.
 
In a 3-0 win over Montclair State last Friday in New York, the Captains had 14.3 kills per set and a .340 hitting percentage, both season highs. Then came Saturday's five-set comeback win over No.22 NYU, in which those six players had between 11 and eight kills.
 
A big key for the Captains' improved play has been the emergence of Coghill and Alexander. Coghill, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, has averaged 9.3 kills (.321) in CNU's winning streak. Alexander, a 5-10 junior, has averaged 7.5 kills (.333) and two blocks.
 
Things won't get any easier this weekend. Friday at 7 p.m., the Captains will take on No. 4 and three-time defending national champion Juniata College (8-1). The Eagles had won 103 consecutive matches until losing to Wittenburg last Friday.
 
Saturday at 1 p.m., CNU will go against No. 9 Johns Hopkins (7-2). At 3 p.m. the Captains will close the weekend against Nazareth University (0-7) of Rochester, N.Y.