AVCA Preseason Poll

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Boasting the highest preseason national ranking since 2016, the Christopher Newport volleyball team was picked No. 22 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Preseason Coaches Poll to start the 2019 season.

The poll, which was released Wednesday by the AVCA, listed the Captains among the nation's top-25 teams in the preseason for the ninth time in the last ten seasons. Christopher Newport collected 265 points in the poll and are the lone team from the Capital Athletic Conference represented in the rankings. 

At the top of the poll, Emory University was picked as the preseason favorites after earning 52 first-place votes. Rounding out the top five heading into 2019 are Calvin, Juniata, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Christopher Newport is scheduled to face three of the top five schools in the first week of the season and will take on all but CMS before the end of the non-conference season. 

Christopher Newport is coming off a season in which the team posted a 26-6 overall record en route to the team's second straight and fifth overall Capital Athletic Conference Championship. The Captains made the program's 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round of the postseason event. 

Two Captains earned All-American plaudits including returning junior opposite Megan O'Hara, while senior middle blocker Riley Garrison also returns after hauling in AVCA All-Region honors. Garrison also earned a spot on the NCAA All-Regional Team and both she and O'Hara also earned VaSID All-State and CAC All-Conference honors. Other starters returning to the fold for Christopher Newport University include Abby Oren, Mackenzie Wright, Hope Webb, and Lauren Tracy. 

Head coach Lindsay Birch will open her 18th season at the helm with a 521-123 overall record for a winning percentage of .809. 

The Captains will open the 2019 campaign campaign on August 30 with a matchup against Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 3:30 pm to kick off the Captains Classic. Christopher Newport will also face Juniata College and Marymount University on the opening weekend.