FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Back in action on the road this weekend, the Christopher Newport volleyball team will play a pair of Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference opponents at the C2C Invitational hosted by Mary Washington. The Captains, riding a six-game winning streak, will face off against UC Santa Cruz (7-6) at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night before facing the host Eagles (4-5) on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. 

The 2026 C2C Invitational also features Salisbury University squaring off against Mary Washington Friday and the Banana Slugs taking on both Salisbury and Mary Washington on Saturday. Live video and live stats will be available for all the matches with links for the CNU games on the volleyball schedule at CNUsports.com. 

Heading into the weekend, the Captains are one of only seven teams in Division III that ranks in the top-25 nationally in both hitting percentage and hitting percentage against. CNU boasts the 18th-highest hitting percentage in the nation so far this season as the Captains are attacking at a .239 clip. Their opponents have managed just .106 against the stingy CNU defense, ranking 25th in Division III. 

Leading the way on the offensive side of the net has been rookie Jasmine Williams (.329) and senior Ali Pratt (.306). Williams has piled up 110 kills (2.39 per set) in her first year while Pratt has added 107 (2.07 per set). Helping set up the CNU offense have been Fielding Croft and Lauren Hobbs with a combined 498 assists this season. Croft has 332 (6.51 per set) and Hobbs is adding 166 (3.95 per set) while pitching in 127 digs between them as well. 

The defensive side of the ball has been led by senior Maddie Hanes with 159 digs while Avery Hanly is over the century mark as well with 103. At the net, six different CNU players have registered double-digit blocks led by Pratt's 38 (15 solo, 23 assisted). 

CNU is 11-4 this season and riding a six-match win streak. The Captains are 8-4 all-time against UC Santa Cruz with a three-game winning streak heading into the Friday night matchup; against the Eagles, CNU is 22-30 all-time with four wins in a row. 

Santa Cruz features one of the top net protectors in the conference in Charlotte Skuite with 40 blocks (1.05 per set) and the sophomore has added 63 kills. Khloe Pavia leads the team with 100 kills (2.33 per set) while Alice Taylor has added 93 (2.38 per set). 

Mary Washington setters Sofie Ferrell and Naomi Decker lead the Eagles offense. Ferrell has 187 assists (5.50 per set) and Naomi Decker is adding 105 (3.50 per set). Julia Gustafson has played all 34 sets for the Eagles and leads teh squad with 147 digs (4.32 per set). 

Following the familiar trip to Fredericksburg, the Captains will travel to nationally-ranked Batten University on Wednesday, October 7 for a 7:00 p.m. matchup. CNU will then return home for the first time in over a month on Friday, October 9 to host Marymountat 6:00 p.m.