Match Information
Score: Lubbock Christian 3, UAFS (Arkansas – Ft. Smith) 0 (25-21, 25-21, 28-26)
Records: Lubbock Christian (15-6, 5-0 Heartland), UAFS (14-9, 4-2 Heartland)
Location: Stubblefield Center – Ft. Smith, Ark.
 
Highlights
 
Lubbock Christian University verified their win streak, which is now at 11 games, with a 3-0 straight-set win over UAFS (Arkansas – Ft. Smith) for their first-ever win over UAFS inside Stubblefield Center (1-7). The win marks LCU's first 5-0 start in Heartland Conference play in program history. LCU needed their statistical horses to show up for their second ever win in the all-time series, and they did. Bradi Marshall, the conference leader in assists, posted 43 (14.3 per set) assists, Kelsie French, the conference's leader in digs per set, led all players with 24 digs (8 per set), Maddie DeGuire, the conference's leader in aces, had a match-high three aces and Lauren Zoller, the conference leader in kills per set, produced a double-double with 12 digs and 11 kills. Debra Rogers (14) and Rachel Williams (13) combined for 27 kills in a losing effort for UAFS, who lost their second conference match of the season (first time since 2013 UAFS has lost two conference matches in the same season) and suffered their first ever 3-0 loss in a Heartland Conference contest (UAFS started playing Heartland Conference contests in 2011). LCU is now 15-6 overall and with a 5-0 conference record, which has them a game ahead of 4-1 St. Mary's.        
 
How It Happened
  
Set One:
LCU used a 6-0 run in the first set to unlock a 6-6 tie, which provided them with a 12-6 lead. The Lions chipped away at the deficit and moved within a point on a couple occasions and as late as 22-21 before a kill by Lauren Zoller started a 3-0 run to close the set for a 25-21 win for the Lady Chaps. UAFS had a 16-13 advantage in the set in kills (Anna Demmer led them with five), but a pair of aces and four blocks (three by Morgan Schwarz) proved to be the difference. LCU setter Bradi Marshall provided LCU 10 assists and five digs in the set. 
 
Set Two:
The Lady Chaps never trailed in the second set. Head coach Jennifer Lawrence called a timeout for LCU after a string of three straight Lions points tied the set at 18-18, and LCU answered with a 7-2 run to claim the set 25-20. LCU hit .282 in the set, Avery Moore leading the team with four kills in the set. Each team had 14 kills in the set and Rachel Williams of UAFS led all players with seven kills. Kelsie French led all players in the set with eight digs and Marshall supplied 13 assists on the squad's 14 kills.  
 
Set Three:
The final set had the score tied a remarkable 19 times. The teams combined for 35 kills (21 by LCU) and 66 digs (34 by UAFS) in the set. Along with the score being tied, the lead changed hands eight times. LCU, plagued by six serving errors in the set, opened the set with a 4-1 lead. Zoller suffered three straight attack errors and UAFS rallied to take a 5-4 lead. Neither team had more than a two-point lead the rest of the set. UAFS had the first three set-point serves late in the set, but all three were denied by kills from Ashley Vanfleet. Zoller had a kill to make it 27-26 for LCU, and they converted on their first set and match-point with the clinching point off an error from UAFS's Anna Demmer.Vanfleet had seven of LCU's 21 kills and Marshall assisted on a whopping 20 of them. French led all players with 13 digs in the set.
 
Inside the Numbers:
5-0 – LCU improved to 5-0 in Heartland Conference play, which is their best Heartland Conference start in program history and their first 5-0 conference record since 2012, which was their final season in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
5-4 – The Lady Chaps won despite UAFS having a 72-69 advantage in digs. They are now 5-4 this season when the opposition has a higher digs total.
0 – UAFS did not register an ace in the match, marking the second time this season LCU was perfect in serve reception (DBU went without an ace on Sept. 13).
2 – After suffering losses in the first 11 meetings, LCU has now won two straight over UAFS. UAFS has an 11-2 all-time record in the series.
5 – Morgan Schwarz matched a season high for a third time this season in blocks with five.
6 – Lauren Zoller's double-double of 12 digs and 11 kills marked her sixth double-double of the season.
11 – The win marked LCU's 11th straight victory, which is their longest since they won 11 straight in September of 2011. They have won 33 of 36 sets played during the stretch.
11 – Although LCU had a 5-0 advantage in aces in the match, they produced 11 serving errors. The total was a season high and their unfortunate highest mark since producing 14 on Sept. 28, 2017.
21 – LCU's 21 kills in the third set was their highest single-set mark this season and their highest since posting 21 in a set on Nov.3, 2016 against DBU.
43 – Bradi Marshall's tally of 43 assists was the highest in a three-set match since Mallory Powell recorded 43 on Nov. 3, 2016.
45 – Ashley Vanfleet's team-leading 12 kills came on 45 attempts, which is a season high for her in a three-set match. It is the seventh highest total in a three-set match by a Lady Chaps member since 2008.
 
Up Next:
LCU four-match road trip heads to Wichita, Kan. Saturday to face Newman at noon. The Jets are 1-19 on the season. The meeting will mark the second meeting of the season between the two teams, but the first of two conference meetings.