FORT SMITH, Ark. (November 19, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University (19-10) continues their play Saturday in the 2016 Heartland Conference Tournament. The No.2-seeded Lady Chaps compete in the title game against top-seeded Arkansas Fort Smith. LCU has won six straight matches including a 3-1 victory over St. Edward's in the semifinal round of the Heartland Tournament. This will be the third meeting of the season between Lubbock Christian and UAFS. The Lions have won the last nine all-time meetings with the Lady Chaps dating back to the 2012 season.
 
University of Arkansas Fort Smith (23-5, 14-0) | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 1:00 PM
Stubblefield Center (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Twitter: LCU: (@LCUchaps, @LCUvolleyball) UAFS: (@UAFSSports, @Uafs_volleyball)
Tweet #LCUvsUAFS | Tweet #HeartlandVB
- The Lions were preseason picked to win the Heartland Conference for the 2016 season. UAFS has shown little regard for Heartland opponents, as they are a perfect 14-0 in conference play.
- The Lions are an astounding 10-0 at home this season. Their last defeat at home came in a 3-1 loss to Newman (Oct. 9, 2014).
- UAFS ranks second in the country in digs per set (20.39). The Lions have tallied 2,019 total team digs in their 2016 campaign.
- Emily Tripp leads the Lion's defense. She currently ranks first in the country with 7.14 digs per set and third in the nation with 707 total digs on the year.
- UAFS had three players named to the 2016 All-Heartland Volleyball team. Tripp was named the Heartland Player of the Year, Erin Black picked up the Freshman of the Year Award and Offensive standout Kennedi Coleman won her second consecutive Offensive Player of the Year award. Head coach Jane Sargent was voted the Heartland Coach of the Year for the fifth straight time.
 
GAME NOTES
- The Lady Chaps are competing in their first Heartland Conference Championship match after defeating St. Edward's 3-1 in a four-set match on Friday night.
- LCU now holds a six-game winning streak that dates back to Oct. 28 when the Lady Chaps defeated St. Mary's in straight sets. The Lady Chaps lost their first set in six matches on Friday night against the Hilltoppers.
- Kelsie French racked up 40 digs in her performance on Friday night. French's 641 digs puts her at 29^th nationally in the category. French ranks 15^th in the country with a six digs per set average.
- Emily Hanaway is third in the Heartland with 344 kills. Hanaway has posted her 10th double-double of the season on Friday night. Emily also leads LCU with 32 aces.
- Mallory Powell picked up her 15^th double-double of the year in the Heartland Conference semifinal match against St. Edward's (52 assists and 16 digs). Powell, the reigning Heartland Conference Setter of the Year, leads the Heartland with 947 assists.
- LCU had four different Lady Chaps post a double-double in their match against the Hilltoppers on Friday night.
- Lubbock Christian leads the Heartland Conference in opponent hitting percentage (.126) and total service aces (160).