FORT SMITH, Ark. (November 20, 2015) – The stage was all set for a miraculous comeback on behalf of Lubbock Christian University as a "#PrayForMalori" banner hung in front of a dozen Malori Maddox Fatheads in the stands at the Heartland Conference volleyball tournament while the Lady Chaparrals took on Newman in a three-versus-two seed matchup inside the Stubblefield Center on the campus of Arkansas-Fort Smith Friday night, but LCU's bid in the fourth set against the Jets fell just short and forced an end to an emotional 2015 season.
 
It is hard to envision that just 10 days ago, competing in a volleyball game was the furthest thought for any of the Lady Chap coaches or players as one of their own was fighting for her life in Wichita Falls. Unbeknownst to the team until after their win at Midwestern State on November 10, redshirt sophomore Malori Maddox had been taken to the hospital after falling ill during the match.
 
Fast-forward to today, and Maddox is recovering in a Dallas hospital while her team, along with folks around the community, region and throughout the country, are playing and praying for Malori while the Lady Chaps (18-11, 10-5 Heartland) battled with Newman (26-8, 13-3 Heartland) for an opportunity to play in the Heartland Conference championship.
 
Kacey Deterding performed extremely well offensively and defensively for LCU in the absence of defensive specialist Maddox, as the redshirt senior was forced to work throughout the entire rotation for the first time this season. Playing in her final contest as a Lady Chap, Deterding compiled a team-high 13 kills to go along with a season-best 13 digs. Ariel Froeschl made an impact at the net with her 11 kills, and the Heartland Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year, Kelsie French, supplied her usual impressive performance in the back row by registering a match-high 26 digs. Mallory Powell, an All-Heartland selection, recorded her 20^th double-double on the season with 43 assists and 15 digs.
 
The four-set contest (23-25, 25-27, 25-17, 23-25) was close throughout with each LCU loss decided by just two points. After dropping the first two frames, the Lady Chaps broke open a 10-10 tie in the third set with a 15-7 run to force a fourth.
 
LCU kept the momentum early on in set four and sprung to a 4-1 advantage following a Maddie Johnson service ace. A kill by NU's Ashley Gonzalez tied the set at 4-4 and the teams were knotted at 10-all before the Jets took off and jumped to a seemingly huge 17-10 lead. The margin grew to a deficit of eight for the Lady Chaps at 20-12, 22-14, 23-15 and 24-16, but LCU was not quite ready for their season to end. An NU attack error preceded a Christiana Tavo kill to cut the deficit to 24-18 before two more attack errors, a ball handling mishap and a bad set on the Jets gave the Lady Chaps life and a one-point shortfall at 24-22. Gonzalez sent an attack wide to pull LCU to within 24-23, but Gonzalez was successful on her next attempt as the ball shimmied of the Lady Chap defenders to send Newman to the conference finals.
 
While a loss is never easy, especially one that ends a season or career, the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps are already looking forward to a special visit in Dallas tomorrow, as they will once again be back with their always inspiring and never forgotten teammate. #PrayForMalori