LUBBOCK, Texas (October 26, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University returns to Heartland Conference play Thursday with a huge home contest against St. Mary's inside Rip Griffin Center. Entering Thursday's play, LCU (8-14 overall) sits in third place in the conference (5-3 conference mark), with four conference matches remaining before the four-team Heartland Conference Tournament. They host a Rattlers squad that sits in second place in the conference with a 6-2 record in conference action. LCU is 5-4 at home this season after a 3-0 loss Tuesday to West Texas A&M.
  
ST. MARY'S (14-9) | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 7 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
 |
• St. Mary's holds an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1980. The Lady Chaps had a six-match win-streak against the Rattlers, until they fell 3-2 on Sept. 28 in San Antonio, Texas.
• The Rattlers have won six straight matches for a 14-9 overall mark. They are 6-2 in conference (winners of three straight conference tilts) and 2-4 on the road (2-2 in road conference matches) this season. They were preseason picked sixth in the conference.
• StMU ranks second in the Heartland Conference in aces per set with a mark of 1.44 per set (0.01 per set behind Newman). Monica Ramon is the conference leader with a pace of 0.36 per set. She has a conference leading 31 aces.
• Bree Perry averages 9.5 assists per set (781 total), which ranks second in the conference.
• Despite ranking second in the conference with 122 serving aces, StMU has allowed 121 aces by their opposition.
 
GAME NOTES
• LCU enters Thursday's play riding a 10-match conference home win streak dating back to last season. The Lady Chaps lost to Arkansas – Fort Smith in their Heartland Conference home opener before winning six straight to complete a 6-1 conference home record last season. They are 4-0 in conference play at home this season.
• The Lady Chaps rank 57^th in digs per set (17.7), with Kelsie French ranking 12^th individually with 5.9 digs per set. She is 18th nationally in total digs with 491.
• Freshman Brynn Warnack has moved into fourth in the Heartland Conference in assists per set with a mark of 7.1 per set.
• Of LCU's 22 matches, they have only won the opening set five times.  They are 5-0 this season when winning the opening set (3-14 when losing the opening set).
• Tuesday, Lauren Zoller posted her fifth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. She has had at least 10 kills produced in six straight home matches.
• Maddie DeGuire had nine digs in Tuesday's match, marking the fourth consecutive match she has had nine digs. She has four matches of double figures in digs this season.