LUBBOCK, Texas (September 22, 2018) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals play their final Heartland Conference tune-up match Saturday, as they host Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a non-conference tilt inside Rip Griffin Center. The contest is LCU's lone match of the week, as they start Heartland Conference play Sept. 27 in San Antonio, Texas facing St. Mary's.  
 
NORTHWESTERN OKLA. ST. | Sat., Sep. 22 | 2:00 p.m.
- LCU has a 2-0 all-time series advantage over Northwestern Oklahoma State. The two programs have not met since 1980 (Oct. 23, 1980), in a match LCU was declared the winner by forfeit. The first meeting resulted in a 2-0 LCU win on Oct. 12, 1979.
- NWOSU is a member of the Great American Conference (GAC), where they were slated fourth in the conference's preseason poll. They went 20-11 last season, with a 10-6 mark in the GAC. This season, NWOSU is 13-6, with an 8-6 mark against NCAA Div. II programs. They are 3-4 on the road, aiming to end a four-match losing streak on the road. Of the 19 student-athletes on NWOSU's roster, 11 are Texas natives.
- The Rangers road losing streak was extended to four matches Friday night after a 3-2 loss in Durant, Okla. to Southeastern Oklahoma State in a GAC meeting. Jennifer Eubanks had 16 kills and four blocks in the loss.
- NWOSU and LCU each moved to NCAA Division II status from the NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference, although the two programs never faced each other in SAC competition. The Alva, Okla. based program revived their volleyball program in 2012 (went 2-27 that season) after shutting it down in the 1980s.
- Tobi Barker entered the weekend leading the GAC and ranking 38^th nationally with .50 aces per set.
 
GAME NOTES
- Lubbock Christian takes a 8-6 record into the contest and they are 1-2 in home matches this season. They are currently on a four-match win streak, which is their best since a six-match win streak in November of 2016.
- LCU's Kelsie French and Bradi Marshall picked up Heartland Conference Volleyball Defensive Player and Setter of the Week honors for matches played from Sept. 10 - Sept. 16. The pair, each from Lubbock, Texas, helped the Lady Chaparrals to a 3-0 week. French helped LCU posting a team-leading 73 digs on the week averaging 7.3 digs per set. With her performance this past weekend, French moved into fifth all-time on the Heartland Conference's career digs list with 2,249 career digs. The senior posted a season-high 32 digs in a four-set win over St. Edward's. She also contributed three aces, three kills and nine assists on the week. This is French's second weekly award this season and the sixth of her career. Marshall did her part by posting a team-leading 108 assists (12.0 assists/set) during the week. The freshman setter had two double-doubles on the week, posting 38 assists and 10 digs at Dallas Baptist followed by 52 assists and 12 digs against St. Edward's. Marshall recorded a career-high 52 assists in a four-set win over St. Edward's, dishing out 13.0 assists per set. She also posted 27 total digs (3.0 per set) three aces and three blocks in the week's action. This is Marshall's first career player of the week award.  
- Serving aces have have developed into an intriguing story this season.  The Lady Chaps have experienced the highs (13 aces Sept. 14 vs. Newman, which tied a program single-match high under head coach Jennifer Lawrence) and lows (0 against Southwestern Okla. State on Sept. 6) from the serving line this season. Aces per set (1.46) is the only team statistical category LCU leads in the Heartland Conference. Maddie DeGuire, who is coming off a six-ace performance against Newman, leads the conference in aces per set with 0.48 (52^nd nationally). DeGuire leads the Heartland and is 39^th nationally with 22 aces this season.
- Marshall leads the Heartland Conference and ranks 65th nationally with 10.02 assists per set.
- Kelsie French leads the Heartland Conference in digs per set (5.79) and entered the week ranking 16th nationally in the category. French is 25th nationally in total digs (278) and her career mark of 2,249 ranks second among NCAA Division II active career leaders.