FORT SMITH, Ark. (October 22, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University (13-9, 6-2) travels to Fort Smith, Ark. on Wednesday for a Heartland Conference bout with Arkansas Fort Smith. LCU is reeling off a 3-0 win at Newman on Thursday night and look to carry their momentum into Saturday's contest. The Lady Chaps currently reside in third place in the Heartland Conference standings. This match is LCU's second scheduled meeting with the Lions this season.
 
University of Arkansas Fort Smith (16-5, 8-0) | Saturday, Oct. 22 | Noon
Stubblefield Center (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Twitter: LCU: (@LCUchaps, @LCUvolleyball) UAFS: (@UAFSSports, @Uafs_volleyball)
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- Arkansas Fort Smith is a perfect 8-0 in conference play this season. The Lady Chaps and UAFS are meeting for the eighth all-time meeting. UAFS, who defeated LCU 3-0 in Lubbock on Sept. 22, is 7-0 all-time against LCU.
- The Lady Lions received 15 first place votes to be preseason picked first in the Heartland Conference. They come into the contest holding a 16-5 overall record including three losses to Top-20 opponents. The Lions currently sit in first place in conference standings. Friday, UAFS won their 13^th match in a row (3-0 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State) and have now won 31-consecutive, regular-season, conference matches. The Lady Lions haven't lost a regular-season, conference match since losing to the Newman Jets on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at the Stubblefield Center. The Lady Lions also extended their home winning streak to 23-consecutive matches and haven't lost at home since the previously mentioned loss to the Jets two seasons ago.
- UAFS has a pristine 6-0 record at home this year and has swept nine of their last 11 opponents in straight sets.
- Defense has been the staple of the Lady Lions season as they rank first among the conference in total team blocks (165.5), opponent hitting percentage (.135, 24^th nationally), blocks per set (2.24, 24^th nationally) and digs per set (19.48, 4^th nationally).
- Shannon Thompson and Emily Tripp have provided the foundation of the Lions defense. Tripp ranks fifth in the nation with 525 total digs and second in the nation with 6.91 digs per set. Thompson guards the net for UAFS as she is leading the conference with 1.13 blocks per set and 81 total blocks.
- Kennedi Coleman has been an offensive machine, as she enters play ranking first in attacks per set (11.53, 24^th nationally), total attacks (876, 27^th nationally), kills per set (4.16, 21^st nationally), total kills (316, 26^th nationally) and points per set (4.56).
 
GAME NOTES
- LCU head coach Jennifer Lawrence currently has 299 career coaching victories and is one away from her 300^th career coaching win (all at LCU).
- The Lady Chaps are now 6-2 in conference play with four of their wins coming in the form of a 3-0 sweep.
- LCU has been building steam with back-to-back 3-0 wins. This match against UAFS will be their third contest in just four days.
- Kelsie French has added 36 digs this week. She ranks second in the Heartland Conference, 12th nationally, with 468 total digs. French is also listed 18^th in the nation with 5.57 digs per set.
- Emily Hanaway had a quiet night, by her means, against Newman. Hanaway is listed at third in the conference in attacks per set (10.03), kills per set (3.22), points per set (3.78), and total kills (267). She also leads the Lady Chaps with 20 aces this season. Emily is closing in on her total kills from the 2015 season in which she had 281 kills in 103 sets played. Hanaway currently has 267 kills in just 83 sets this season.
- Camille Porco is coming off of a career high .700 hitting percentage in her game against Newman University. Efficiency was key for her as she recorded seven kills on just 10 attempts. She is averaging 2.04 points per set and 1.39 kills per set on the season.
- Mallory Powell has played the role of offensive maestro for the Lady Chaps. She is tabbed second in the conference in assists per set (9.56) and total assists (698).