NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Alyssa Dozier began her senior year needing 38 kills to become the 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 for her career. With 33 coming in last weekend's Captains Classic, Dozier needs only five more going into this weekend's Captains Challenge.
 
After beginning its season by winning two of three matches, No. 21 CNU will host three strong opponents Friday and Saturday in the Freeman Center.
 
On the first day, the Captains will open against Bridgewater College (2-2) at 3 p.m. At 7 p.m., CNU will face No. 12 Trinity University (2-1). The Captains will close against William Paterson (2-2) Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
CNU is well acquainted with Bridgewater, which it leads in the all-time series 14-11. The Captains have an 11-match winning streak against the Eagles, each of the last three coming by 3-0 scores.
 
CNU is 2-2 against Trinity, located in San Antonio, but hasn't faced the Tigers since 2012. The Captains are 2-0 against William Paterson with both wins coming last season — 3-1 in the season opener, and 3-1 in the NCAA regional quarterfinals.
 
The other matchups will be William Paterson vs. Trinity Friday at 12:30 p.m., Trinity vs. Bridgewater Saturday at 11 a.m., and Bridgewater vs. William Paterson Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
Of note …
 
-- With nine solo blocks last weekend, Dozier moved into third on the program's all-time list with 113. …
 
-- Sophomore outside hitter Avery Hanly matched her career high with 13 kills against the Coast Guard Academy last week. She also had three assists, 11 digs and two solo blocks. …
 
-- One of Bridgewater's assistant coaches will look familiar to CNU fans. Sammy Carroll, a former Captains' setter who is No. 2 on the program's career assist list with 5,031, is in her first season as an Eagles' assistant. Carroll also spent a year on the sidelines at Christopher Newport as an assistant coach in 2024.