SAN ANTONIO, Texas (September 27, 2018) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals open their Heartland Conference schedule on the road this week, opening conference play Thursday at 7 p.m. facing St. Mary's University before heading to Laredo, Texas Saturday to face Texas A&M International at noon. LCU takes a five-match win streak into conference play and they seek their first 1-0 start in conference since 2015.   
 
ST. MARY'S | Thur., Sep. 27 | 7:00 p.m.
- St. Mary's holds a 13-8 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1980. The Lady Chaps had a six-match win-streak against the Rattlers, until falling all three meetings last season. Their prior meeting was LCU's season-ending contest, falling 3-1 on Nov. 17, 2017 at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Fort Smith, Ark.LCU's last win in San Antonio came on Oct. 28, 2016 (3-0).  
- StMU, 6-9 overall, is off to a 1-0 start in conference after a 3-0 win Tuesday over Texas A&M International. The defending Heartland Conference Tournament champions carry a No.2 preseason ranking in the Heartland Conference preseason poll.
- The Rattlers, who are 0-3 in true road matches this season, are 2-0 at home. They went 10-2 at home last season and enter Thursday on a three-game home win streak.
- The match features the top two serving teams in the Heartland Conference, as StMU ranks second behind LCU in serving aces with 77, for a pace of 1.38 per set.
- Monica Ramon has 1,584 career digs, placing her 25^th on NCAA Division II's active career leaders. She leads StMU with 191 digs this season.
 
GAME NOTES
- Lubbock Christian takes a 9-6 record into the contest and they are 2-1 in true road matches this season. They are currently on a five-match win streak, which is their best since a six-match win streak in November of 2016.
- LCU is 3-2 in Heartland Conference openers, falling to Arkansas-Fort Smith in their prior two conference openers. They went 17-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference openers prior to becoming Heartland Conference members. Head coach Jennifer Lawrence is 12-4 in conference openers.
- Serving aces has developed into an intriguing story this season.  The Lady Chaps have experienced the highs (13 aces Sept. 14 vs. Newman and on Sept. 22 vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State, 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 (1.61) and total aces (82) is the only team statistical category LCU leads in the Heartland Conference. Maddie DeGuire, who is coming off consecutive six-ace performance (only player in program history to complete at least six aces in consecutive matches), leads the conference in aces per set with 0.57 (14^th nationally). DeGuire leads the Heartland and is 15^th nationally with 28 aces this season.
- Marshall leads the Heartland Conference and ranks 64th nationally with 10.09 assists per set, which ranks ninth among all freshmen.
- Kelsie French leads the Heartland Conference in digs per set (5.8) and entered the week ranking 17th nationally in the category. French is 33^rd nationally in total digs (296) and her career mark of 2,267 ranks second among NCAA Division II active career leaders.
- Lauren Zoller posted 19.5 points in LCU's 3-0 win Saturday against Northwestern Oklahoma State, with an average of 6.5 points per set. The mark was the most in a three-set-match since Maddie Johnson racked up 20.5 points in three sets against Dallas Baptist on Sept. 20, 2014.
- LCU's six losses this season (accounting for all their losses this season) have come against programs that have combined for a current record of 71-22 (76.3%). They do not have a loss to a sub-.500 team this season.