Kari (Barrett) Bezner played volleyball for the Lady Chaps during Lubbock Christian's first rise to power in the Sooner Athletic Conference, helping LCU to three straight Conference Championships and two NAIA National Tournament appearances in her career, which lasted from 1997 through 1999.
Bezner, along with fellow LCU Athletics Hall of Honor inductee Mindy (Ratliff) Jones, became the first two Lady Chap players ever honored as NAIA All-Americans in 1998 when Bezner was named to the second team and Jones was named to the third team. Barrett repeated as an NAIA Second Team All-American in 1999. Bezner was also named to the All-SAC Tournament Team and the All-Southwest Region Team in 1998, the All-SAC First Team (MVP), All-Independent Team (MVP and Setter of the Year) and All-Region Team in 1999.
By the time she finished her three-year career in 1999, Bezner had her name all over the Lady Chap record books. She was fifth all-time in aces (111), fourth in games played (432) and the LCU career leader in assists with (3,982). Her program record for assists has since been broken by fellow LCU Athletics Hall of Honor member Mandy (Moffit) Polk.
A native of Hereford, Texas, Bezner had a strong record for success when she came to LCU, having just claimed the 1996 4-A State Championship with an astounding record of 35-1. She made an impact for the Lady Chaps as a freshman, leading the team with 36 service aces and ranking second on the team with 621 assists, playing in all but one of LCU's 38 matches. Lubbock Christian went 30-9 on the year and won the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament, clinching the school's first trip to the Southwest Regional Tournament.
In 1998, Bezner was even better, setting a new LCU single-season assist record with 1,611 while adding in 130 kills (on a .356 hitting percentage), 386 digs and 34 aces in 42 games. The Lady Chaps at one point won 26 matches in a row during the season on their way to capturing the Southwest Regional Title and making it all the way to the Elite Eight.
Her final season on the court came in 1999 as a junior, but Bezner made it count. She
1999 Media Guide Cover
broker her own single-season record for assists, this time with 1,750, moving her into first place all-time in that category. Playing in all 47 matches, she added in 167 kills (.420 hitting percentage), 31 digs and 41 aces. The Lady Chaps once again captured SAC and Southwest Regional Titles, to advance to the NAIA National Tournament.
Bezner was inducted into the LCU Athletics Hall of Honor in 2007.
