LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (1-1) at COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO (1-1)
Saturday, September 5 – 11 a.m.
The Box (Canyon, Texas)
All-Time Series: LCU leads 2-1
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (1-1) at No. 22 WEST TEXAS A&M (2-0)
Saturday, September 5 – 7:30 p.m.
The Box (Canyon, Texas)
All-Time Series: WT leads 27-8-1
Volleyball garners inaugural win in new era, splits matches on the day
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.
Trio of preseason first place votes lands volleyball in second place
Three first place nods for Lubbock Christian volleyball led to the Lady Chaps being picked to finish second within the Heartland Conference for the 2015 season. LCU's 141 total points trailed Arkansas-Fort Smith's 159 and 15 first place votes.
Head coaches and sports information directors were polled regarding the finish of the nine sponsored teams. Picked to follow the Lions and Lady Chaps were St. Edward's, Dallas Baptist, Newman, St. Mary's, Texas-Permian Basin, Texas A&M International and Oklahoma Panhandle State.
The Lions are coming off a 2014 Heartland Conference regular season championship and are looking for their fourth straight title. Last season, UAFS won the 2014 Heartland Conference Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA DII National Semifinals.
Volleyball class of 2015 completed
Head Coach Jennifer Lawrence has finalized her class of signees for Lubbock Christian volleyball which includes a college transfer, a Lubbock native and a pair of high school standouts.
Incoming sophomore Catie Cline makes her way to LCU via NAIA member Lindsey Wilson College. As a Blue Raider, Cline started 22 matches while racking up 146 kills and 98 blocks. Prior to LWC, the middle blocker was a four-time All-District selection at Wylie East in addition to being named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Academic First Team.
Local product Maddie Reed led her Coronado Mustangs to the regional semifinal last season and a 22-10 overall record. The right side hitter earned All-District Second Team honors as a senior.
Leander native Emily Hanaway will don a Lady Chap jersey following a prep career at Rouse High School where she was named First Team All-District and All-Area her senior season where she was the RHS volleyball MVP. The middle blocker also earned All-District Academic First Team accolades.
Setter Cory Jo Martin hails from Manvel where she was a three-time All-District selection as well as a two-time Academic All-District honoree. The setter was a two-year captain at MHS and was named to the Texas High School Coaches Association All-State Academic Second Team and the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Academic First Team.
2015 volleyball schedule announced
Head coach Jennifer Lawrence released the upcoming 2015 volleyball schedule for Lubbock Christian, which in its 28-game calendar includes a pair of four-game tournaments, 16 Heartland Conference matches and two first-time pairings against non-conference opponents.
The Lady Chaps begin the season at the Lady Buff Classic in Canyon, Texas, on September 4-5 with non-conference games against Adams State, Eastern New Mexico, Colorado State-Pueblo and host West Texas A&M. The following week, LCU travels to Kingsville, Texas, for the Javelina Invitational to compete against host team Texas A&M-Kingsville, conference member St. Mary's and inaugural battles versus Drury and Bentley.
The squad will renew a pair of old rivalries in Wayland Baptist and Tarleton State. The Lady Chaps and WBU last competed against each other in 2012, while LCU and TSU have not faced each other since 2004.
The first nine matches of the year will be played on the road before a five-game home stand begins on September 17. LCU's final regular season home game will take place on November 7 against Dallas Baptist, while the conclusion of the regular season will be at Oklahoma Panhandle State on November 12. The Heartland Conference Tournament will take place on November 20-21 at a site to be determined.
