Box Score Match Information
Score: Lubbock Christian 3, St. Mary's 1 (26-24, 18-25, 28-26, 25-19)
Records: Lubbock Christian (19-7, 9-1 Heartland), StMU (13-13, 7-3 Heartland)
Location: Rip Griffin Center – Lubbock, Texas
 
Highlights
Lubbock Christian University clinched at least a share of the Heartland Conference regular season title, improving to 9-1 in conference play with a 3-1 victory over St. Mary's Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center. The regular season title is LCU's first as members of the Heartland Conference and the 13^th conference title in program history. LCU also clinched hosting honors as the No.1-seed of the Heartland Conference Tournament (Nov. 9-10).  Saturday's win was led by Jaiden Kennedy, who posted 16 points off 12 kills and eight blocks. Her eight blocks matched a career high. Bradi Marshall contributed 48 assists and 18 digs to complete a double-double in the win. StMU lost despite 17 kills from Alissa Tolbert.
 
How It Happened
  
Set One:
Lauren Zoller capped a 7-3 lead for the Lady Chaps to open the set, but StMU gradually came back and eventually tied the set at 15-15. It was the first of seven ties in the set. StMU went on a 6-2 run to take a 23-21 lead before LCU's Jaiden Kennedy and Avery Moore each had a block and a kill to help produce a 5-1 run to help LCU win the set 26-24. Kennedy led LCU with four kills in the set and teammate Bradi Marshall contributed 13 assists in the set. Alissa Tolbert led StMU in the set with four kills, as the Rattlers had a 15-13 kill advantage in the frame.
 
Set Two:
LCU lost the second set despite an 8-2 lead to open the set. A 10-4 StMU run allowed the Rattlers to shift the momentum. They had an 11-1 run to close the set, taking advantage of six LCU errors in the rally. StMU had a 15-8 advantage in kills during the set, with five kills from Mackenzie Harless.
 
Set Three:
In similar fashion to the opening set, LCU jumped out to a 7-3 advantage in the third set, only to have the Rattlers charge back again. There were nine lead changes in the set and 14 ties. A kill by Zoller put LCU up 22-19, but StMU responded with a 6-2 run for a 25-24 advantage. StMU was unsuccessful on two set-point serves and LCU converted on their first opportunity with Alissa Tolbert's kill attempt sailing beyond the endline. Tolbert's attempt nearly added to her eight kills in the set, as StMU had a 21-17 kill advantage. Kennedy and Vanfleet each co-led LCU with four kills in the set.
 
Set Four:
LCU trailed early in the fourth set. An 8-1 run sparked by a pair of kills by Zoller helped LCU rally and take a 15-11 lead. Morgan Schwarz collected a pair of kills in a 4-0 LCU surge and it helped LCU build the lead to 21-14. They went on to win 25-19 to complete the match win. Ashley Vanfleet led an LCU charge at the net in the final set with four of LCU's 16 kills, as they had a 16-8 advantage in the set.
 
Inside the Numbers:
 
8 – Jaiden Kennedy had eight blocks, matching a career high for a fourth time and a third time this season. All eight blocks were combo-assisted blocks, marking the third time in her career (second this season) she has had eight block assists in a match.
 
4-6 – The Lady Chaps improved to 4-6 in matches when the opposition has more kills.  LCU opponents have had the upper hand in the category in two of the last three matches, but LCU has has won each of those contests. Winning the match with a -5 in the category matches the highest disadvantage in the category with a win this season.
 
9-1 – LCU have a two-match lead in the Heartland Conference standings with the win (St. Mary's is 7-3). LCU's conference record of 9-1 is their best 10-match start in Heartland Conference play since a 9-1 record through 10 matches to begin their 2014 Heartland Conference schedule.
 
10 – LCU won it's 10^th all-time match in the head-to-head series and is now 10-13 all-time against the Rattlers. The Lady Chaps swept the regular season series this season.
 
11.0 – LCU produced 11.0 blocks in the match, with Kennedy leading the Lady Chaps with eight. It is the 11th time this season LCU has had at least 8.0 blocks in a match this season and they have completed the task in their last four matches.
 
13 – Bradi Marshall's double-double was her team-leading 13^th double-double this season. She has double-doubles in eight of LCU's 10 conference matches this season.
 
14 – Saturday's match featured 14 lead changes and the score was tied on 29 occasions.
 
79 – Of LCU's 79 digs in the match, 57 were in the final two sets (31 in the fourth set).
 
Up Next:
LCU remains home Tuesday and will host West Texas A&M for a non-conference matchup beginning with a 7pm opening serve inside Rip Griffin Center.