CANYON, Texas (September 4, 2015) – Lubbock Christian entered the realm of NCAA Division II volleyball with a win in their first contest as full members with a four-set win over Adams State (25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18) before suffering a five-set setback to longtime foe Eastern New Mexico (22-25, 25-15, 25-17, 20-25, 13-15) Friday afternoon at the BritKare Lady Buff Classic hosted by West Texas A&M.
 
Maddie Johnson compiled a pair of double-digit kill performances, racking up 11 against ASU and 14 versus ENMU. Emily Hanaway made an early statement in game one with a match-high 16 kills, four blocks and a service ace in her Lady Chap debut. Mallory Powell twice earned match-high honors in assists with 50 (a career-high) and 41, while Kelsie French's 22 digs versus ASU totaled a match-best.
 
Hanaway made her way into the books quickly with a point from the middle on the first play of the day for the Lady Chaps (1-1). With the game knotted at 10-10, LCU began to steadily increase the lead, opening the gap to 23-15 on kills by Ariel Froeschl and Powell along with a service ace by Malori Maddox. A kill by Hanaway punctuated the set one win.
 
In set two, the Lady Chaps found themselves down 13-10 before taking the lead at 18-17 on a Grizzly attack error. A Johnson kill pushed LCU out in front, 22-19, and Hanaway once again ended the contest for the Lady Chaps on a kill.
 
The Grizzlies (0-2) extended the match to a fourth set with a two-point win in game three. LCU jumped out to a 9-4 advantage following a 4-4 tie with a pair of blocks, a kill by Kacey Deterding and two ASU errors. The lead doubled to 18-9 and the Lady Chaps were able to finish the contest as victors in their inaugural contest of 2015.
 
LCU saw a familiar opponent on the opposite side of the net during match number two in Lone Star Member Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds (1-1) ran out to an initial 5-0 lead in set one before the Lady Chaps were able to gain some ground and pull ahead 13-11 on a block by Powell and Froeschl. ENMU regained the lead at 16-15 on a kill by Courtney Lawson before the Greyhounds held on to take game one.
 
The Lady Chaps responded well to capture wins in sets two and three for a one-game match advantage heading into set four. Two ENMU attack errors allowed LCU to tie the game at 17-all, but the Greyhounds immediately responded with a kill and two blocks on the Lady Chap front row, leading to the five-point win and forcing a decisive set.
 
Two kills by ENMU's Lauren Frye put her team up 3-1 before LCU tied things up at 4-4 after a Johnson kill and Greyhound error. A kill by Deterding again equaled the game, 7-7, but ENMU pieced together a 4-0 run and an 11-7 edge. The Lady Chaps saw some life after a trio of Greyhound miscues and a 13-13 game, but Frye came through with a kill and ENMU earned the final point of the match and the victory.
 
The Lady Chaps continue play in the BritKare Lady Buff Classic tomorrow by facing Colorado State-Pueblo at 11 a.m. and host team #22 West Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m.