LUBBOCK, Texas (October 17, 2015) – Maddie Johnson's game-high 16 kills propelled Lubbock Christian University to a three-set win (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) over Texas A&M International Saturday afternoon inside the Rip Griffin Center to place the Lady Chaparrals in sole possession of fourth place within the Heartland Conference.
 
Today's win was of high importance for LCU. Entering the match, the Lady Chaps (12-7, 7-3 Heartland) held a half-game lead for fourth place over the Dustdevils (6-9, 6-5 Heartland) in a league where the four top teams advance to the conference tournament. 
 
Four straight points put LCU in front to begin the match and the lead extended to 7-2 on a TAMIU attack error. A kill by Dustdevil Remy Gardner tied the set at 10-all, but a 7-2 LCU run highlighted by a pair of kills each from Ariel Froeschl and Johnson put the Lady Chaps up 17-12. Samantha Matthews dug the ball out of the net and ensued her save with a block for a 19-17 advantage. From there, LCU put on five successive points as Kelsie French earned a service ace by sending the ball of the shoulder of a Dustdevil defender before TAMIU ended the set with a service error that sailed deep.
 
LCU broke loose from a 4-4 tie in set two on a Johnson kill to push the advantage to 13-8 on a dump by Powell that caught the defense off guard. A well-placed tip by Johnson upped the lead to 18-9, and a Froeschl attack put the Lady Chaps up 21-14. Another Froeschl kill put LCU at set point before Matthews blasted a kill off of two blockers for the win.
 
Three kills by Christiana Tavo sparked a 9-2 opening run by the Lady Chaps in set three, and a Johnson kill enlarged the lead to 11-3. A kill by TAMIU's Paula Mrowczynska pulled the Dustdevils to within 13-7, but a Johnson kill, Powell service ace and block by Matthews and Tavo put LCU up 16-7. TAMIU closed to within 19-15 after two Gardner aces, but a pair of Johnson kills placed the Lady Chaps at match point, and Matthews once again finished off the set with a kill.
 
For LCU, Powell tallied 34 assists and Kelsie French totaled 13 digs.
 
For TAMIU, Madison Morris recorded 13 kills and Gardner added 10.
 
The Lady Chaps travel to take on the Heartland's first-place team, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Thursday at 7 p.m.