LUBBOCK, Texas (September 29, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University (6-6, 1-1) looks to ride the momentum of a 3-1 win over Newman into this week's play, which opens Thursday at home hosting St. Mary's. LCU is 3-1 at home this season and are playing the fourth match of a six-match homestand (four of the matches are Heartland Conference contests). LCU is tied for fourth place in the conference standings with a 1-1 conference record. There are only two unbeaten teams thus far in conference (UAFS and St. Edward's are each 2-0).
St. Mary's (8-6, 2-1) | Thursday, Sept. 29 | 6:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Twitter: LCU: (@LCUchaps, @LCUvolleyball) StMU: (@StMarysRattlers, @StMUvolleyball)
- The Rattlers own a 10-6 edge over LCU in a series that began in 1980, but the Lady Chaps have taken the last four matches from StMU. LCU won 3-1 (in Kingsville, Texas on Sept. 11, 2015) and 3-1 in Lubbock (Oct. 15, 2015) in last season's meetings.
- St. Mary's was preseason picked seventh in the Heartland Conference polls. They went 4-12 in conference last season.
- The Rattlers have won three straight matches and six of their last seven matches.
- StMU leads the Heartland Conference in aces per set (1.6) and Channing Hankins leads the conference with 0.4 aces per set.
- Setter Bree Perry, who had 108 assists (12 per set), is coming off Heartland Conference Setter of the Week honors and Megan Isbell, who had a .488 hitting percentage on the week, is coming off Hitter of the Week honors.
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GAME NOTES
- The Lady Chaps (6-6 overall) are 7-3 at home in conference games since the start of the 2015 season.
- For the season, LCU as combined to outscore their opponents in every set except the opening set. LCU is 4-8 in opening set decisions.
- Emily Hanaway ranks second in the Heartland Conference in points per set with an average of 3.7 points.
- Mallory Powell ranks third in the conference in assists per set at 9.1 per set.
- Kelsie French ranks 36th nationally with 248 total digs, with a mark of 5.5 per set (21st nationally).
- LCU leads the conference holding the opposition to a .144 attack percentage on the season.
- Of LCU's 23 sets in which they have lost this season, eight (32%) have been sets lost by two points (as close as you can lose in a set), including five of their last nine sets. They have lost 11 of their 23 sets by three or less points.
