LUBBOCK, Texas (November 10, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University (17-10, 10-3) will wrap up their 2016 regular season Thursday as they take on Oklahoma Panhandle State University in a Heartland Conference scrap inside Rip Griffin Center. Heading into the matchup, LCU is riding a four game win-streak and has sole possession of second place in the Heartland standings. The Lady Chaps are a perfect 21-0 against Oklahoma Panhandle State all-time and are looking to finish their season on a hot note before they head into the Heartland Conference Tournament in Fort Smith, Ark.
 
Oklahoma Panhandle State University (3-25, 0-13) | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 6 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Twitter: LCU: (@LCUchaps, @LCUvolleyball) OPSU: (@OPSUAthletics, @OPSUVolleyball)
Tweet #LCUvsOPSU Tweet #HeartlandVB
- OPSU's last victory came against Jarvis Christian College (Nov.6) in the form of a 3-2 victory.
- OPSU was preseason picked eighth in Heartland Conference polls and that is where they currently stand. The Aggies have a 3-25 overall record and a 0-13 record against conference opponents. They have lost 98 straight conference contests and have not won a conference game since Sept. 25, 2010. OPSU applied for NAIA membership, effective for next season, marking this contest as their final volleyball contest as a Heartland Conference and a NCAA member.
- Emily Goeken leads the way for the Aggie attack as she has posted 170 kills in 87 sets played.
- Kayln Moore is right behind Goeken as she has added 152 kills of her own. Moore also leads the Aggie squad with 25 aces on the year.
- Julia Ibarra has distributed 563 assists this season and ranks second on the OPSU roster in total digs (203).
 
GAME NOTES
- This is Lubbock Christian's final regular season match of the year. In addition, this is the final home contest for seniors Christiana Tavo and Ariel Froeschl. Both seniors lead LCU in the blocks category with 79 and 78 total blocks, respectively.
- The Lady Chaps are 9-1 at home this season and have won those nine games in compelling fashion. Five of those wins have come in straight-set sweeps, one win coming in a four-set match and three wins coming in five-set contests.
- Lubbock Christian's four-game win streak began against St. Mary's (10/28/16) with LCU dismantling the Rattlers in a three sets. In total, the Lady Chaps have won six of their last seven contests (all six in straight sets) and have won 12 straight sets.
- Lubbock Christian's 10-3 conference record has clinched the No.2-seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament. The conference tournament is scheduled for Nov. 18 and they will open the four-team tournament facing the No.3-seed, which will be Newman or St. Edward's depending the outcome of their final match of the regular season. SEU has the tiebreaker advantage if SEU and NU each end the regular season with identical conference records.
- LCU's 151 aces and 1.51 aces per set lead the Heartland Conference. Of those 151 aces, Emily Hanaway has served up 30 on her own.
- Hanaway continued her 2016 tirade with a double-double performance against the Hilltoppers. She continues to lead the Lady Chaps with 322 kills and 3.25 kills per set.
- Mallory Powell has been a powerful offensive force for the Lady Chaps. She scooped up her second consecutive and fifth overall Heartland Conference Setter of the Week award for the 2016 season this week. Powell ranks first in the conference with 876 total assists and 9.84 assists per set. In her past two matches alone, Powell has chalked up 74 of LCU's 87 assists (in six sets). She has also racked up 14 double-double performances on the year.
- After being named the Libero of the Week for matches being played Nov. 1-6, Kelsie French looks to close out her second regular season campaign. The reigning Heartland Conference Freshman and Defensive Player of the year has certainly made her mark for the Lady Chaps as this was her second Player of the Week award this year and her fourth overall. The Lubbock native has posted back-to-back 27-dig performances. French now ranks 15^th in the nation with 584 total digs and 13^th in the nation with 5.84 digs per set.