Game Information
Score: Arkansas Fort Smith 3, Lubbock Christian 0 (25-16, 25-17, 27-25)
Records: Lubbock Christian (19-11, 11-3), Arkansas Fort Smith (24-5, 14-0)
Location: Stubblefield Center – Fort Smith, Ark.
 
Highlights
Lubbock Christian University made their way to Fort Smith, Ark. for their second consecutive Heartland Conference Tournament appearance. The Lady Chaps finished off the Heartland season with an 11-3 record to be named a No. 2-seed in the Conference Tournament. After knocking No. 3-seeded St. Edward's out in the first round, Lubbock Christian had a date with the No. 1-seed Arkansas Fort Smith. This was the Lady Chaps third meeting of the season with UAFS, and for the third time this year, the Lions swept LCU in three sets.
 
How It Happened
 
Set One
Both squads were wired up and ready to play as a berth in the NCAA Tournament was on the line. Lubbock Christian sped to an early 5-3 lead on back-to-back kills by Christiana Tavo. UAFS had a quick answer for the Lady Chaps and tied the score up at 6-6. Fort Smith then turned up the heat and went on a 6-1 run to take an 11-7 lead over Lubbock Christian. LCU tried to keep it close, and even closed the gap to a 15-13 Fort Smith lead, but the Lions scored seven straight points to close out the set at 25-16.
 
Set Two
The Lions opened up the second set on a 4-2 run on four straight kills. The Lady Chaps stayed close with Fort Smith and pulled within two points off of a kill by Emily Hanaway. Back-to-back LCU errors kicked off a 10-2 UAFS streak and widen the Lions lead to 19-9. Ariel Froeschl scored on consecutive kills to ignite four straight Lubbock Christian points, but the damage was already done. The reigning Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Year Kennedi Coleman closed out the match with a kill. The Lions won the second set 25-17.
 
Set Three
The Lady Chaps came into the third set with a hot-hand and recorded a quick five points to take a 5-1 lead. UAFS's Erin Black served up two straight aces to cap off a five-point Fort Smith run and give the Lions a 6-5 lead. The Lady Chaps kept pushing the Lions and even took a 15-14 lead on a kill by Froeschl. Fort Smith's Marissa Murphy had three kills in a row to help the Lions take the lead back at 18-16. Back-to-back kills by Hanaway and Tavo regained the lead at 21-19. LCU remained in control until Coleman sparked a 6-2 run to close out the set and match for the Lions. UAFS finished out the set by a score of 27-25.
 
Inside the Numbers:
 16 – Mallory Powell picked up her 16^th double-double of the season This was her second consecutive double-double and her third of the year against UAFS.
4 – The 3-0 loss to the Lions marks the fourth time this year that the Lady Chaps were swept in a contest.
42 – LCU was able to tuck away 42 kills against UAFS. There were three Lady Chaps with double-figure kills. Lauren Zoller had 10, Emily Hanaway had 10, and senior Christiana Tavo led Lubbock Christian with 11 kills.
3 – There were three Lady Chaps to post double-doubles on Saturday night. Lauren Zoller had 10 kills and 12 digs, Emily Hanaway had 10 kills and 13 digs, and Mallory Powell recorded 37 assists and 12 digs.
 
LCU ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Mallory Powell and  Christiana Tavo
 
This concludes the 2016 season for the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps. Although a national championship is always the final goal for the squad, credit must be given where it is due. The Lady Chaps helped coach Jennifer Lawrence grab her 300^th career-win (all with LCU), Lubbock Christian ended the season with an 11-3 Heartland Conference record. Nine of their 11 Heartland wins came in straight-set sweeps. This was just Lubbock Christian's second year of NCAA post-season eligibility and their second-straight appearance in the Heartland Conference Tournament. Finally, the Lady Chaps will only lose two players from their from their current roster. They are riddled with youth, which means that the future is very bright for Coach Lawrence and her team.
 
While the Lady Chaps are only losing two players this year, Christiana Tavo and Ariel Froeschl will be sorely missed. They provided the top-two spots in the blocking category for LCU and were extremely dangerous on the offensive end. Froeschl will finish the 2016 season 170 kills and 84 blocks. Christiana Tavo closes out the 2016 campaign with 286 kills and 83 blocks.