Match Information
Score: Lubbock Christian 3, No.25 West Texas A&M 2 (17-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 16-14)
Records: Lubbock Christian (18-6, 13-2), WT (18-4, 12-3)
Location: Rip Griffin Center – Lubbock, Texas
Highlights
Lubbock Christian University celebrated Senior Day with their first win of the season over a nationally ranked opponent, as LCU claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory over No.25 West Texas A&M in a Rivalry on the Range meeting in Lone Star Conference play at Rip Griffin Center. The contest culminated with a challenge, as Lady Chaps
Sage Chains kill attempt, with the score tied 14-14 in the fifth set, was initially ruled out, providing WT a 15-14 lead and serving with match-point. LCU head coach
Keith Giboney challenged the call and replay showed a change of ball-rotation at the net, from a defender's tip, and the officials reversed the call and Chain received a kill to give LCU a 15-14 lead. Chain hammered home her 19
th kill of the match on the ensuing rally and LCU claimed their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No.15 Angelo State in Lubbock on Oct. 22, 2019. Chain was solid, leading LCU with 21 points off 19 kills and five blocks (three solo).
Jalee Sims, who was honored for Senior Day alongside teammates
Hannah Froeschl and
Jenna Lyons, produced a double-double with 43 assists and 20 digs. The Lady Chaps also received 12 kills from Froeschl and 10 kills from
Aaliyah Gray. The win was an important one for LCU, as not only did it move LCU past WT and into third place (in the LSC standings), but it also clinched a first-round-bye in the LSC Championships and LCU will advance to the final site (LCU is still mathematically eligible to possibly host). WT fell despite 21 kills and four blocks from Torrey Miller, who also completed a double-double with 15 digs. Sadie Snay also had a double-double for the Lady Buffs (25 assists and 10 digs).
How It Happened
Set One:
LCU started to fall behind early, as WT used a 4-1 run to take a 7-4 lead, but
Kendall Mahaney served consecutive aces a spurred a 4-0 run for an 8-7 lead. Tied 11-11, WT received a kill and two blocks from Torrey Miller to help the Lady Buffs go on a 5-0 run. A kill by
Aaliyah Gray allowed LCU to pull with two points (17-15) of WT, but the Lady Buffs responded with an 8-2 surge to win the set 25-17. WT had a .448 attack percentage in the set, compared to .034 by LCU. Abi Nash led WT with five kills.
Set Two:
The second set featured momentum swings early. LCU has been strong in serve reception this season, but in the set, WT had two serving aces during a 6-1 run to jump out to a 7-3 lead. LCU climbed back with true freshmen Gray and
Kaitlyn Mayo producing kills before four WT errors led to LCU taking a 10-9 lead off a 7-2 run. The teams then changed pace and traded points before back-to-back kills by
Sage Chain led to WT calling a timeout with LCU leading 16-14. The timeout did not change the momentum, as LCU continued with a kill and combo block by Gray (combo with Chain) and a kill by Sims to cap a 5-0 run for a 19-14 lead. The 5-0 run was part of a 9-2 run for a 23-16 lead, but the set wasn't in the books. WT responded with a late 6-0 rally and trailed LCU 24-23 before Froeschl produced a kill to clinch the set 25-23. Chain (5) and Froeschl (4) each hit over .400 in the frame.
Set Three:
WT's run to close the second set continued into the start of the third set. Miller had a block and a pair of kills to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Chain and Sims each had a kill to help LCU come back and cut the deficit to one (7-6). Kayla Elliott had two aces in the set, and her second capped a 6-1 WT run for a 17-11 lead. The lead would hold strong and WT regained the match lead with a 25-16 set win. Miller and Chain were each of their team's leaders in the set, as each led their squad with a set-high five kills.
Set Four:
Trailing 9-6, LCU countered a 4-0 WT run with a 6-0 run and took a 12-9 lead. Just as WT was coming back (cut LCU's lead to 13-12), LCU held them off with a 6-1 surge capped by a
Chloe Menard ace. LCU led 22-17 and had to fight off another Lady Buff late surge. WT received a pair of kills from Camy Jones and cut the LCU lead to 22-21. Gray,
Sage Post and Chain each had kills to end the set on a 3-1 run for a 25-22 win to force the decisive fifth set. Froeschl, Gray and Post each had four kills for LCU.
Set Four:
There were four lead changes in the final set. LCU had an 8-4 lead slip away following a 5-0 WT run to give WT a 9-8 lead. The two teams went back-and-forth leading up to the replay challenge which resulted in Chain's kill and a prelude to her match-winning kill, as LCU won the set 16-14. LCU hit .429 in the frame, with Chain producing four of LCU's 12 kills. Sims had nine assists in the set and LCU had a 16-11 advantage in digs (Gray and Sims each with four).
Inside the Numbers:
| 17-2 |
LCU's win moved them to 18-6 overall and to 8-1 at home. With LCU 9-1 on the road and 8-1 at home, LCU improves to 17-2 in non-neutral site matches. |
| 1-4 |
LCU, who has lost four of their six matches come against ranked opponents, collected their first win of the season against a ranked foe, putting them at 1-4 on the season against ranked programs. |
| 8-1 |
The Lady Chaps completed the season 8-1 at home this season. The mark is their best home record since 10-1 in 2016. |
| 3-1 |
LCU improved to 3-1 on the season in matches decided in five sets. Of LCU's 48 meetings with WT (all-time), 12 have gone the distance to five sets. With Saturday's win, LCU is now 6-6 when the two teams go five sets. |
| 3 |
Sage Chain had three solo blocks, which is tied for the fifth-most solo blocks in a match since the 2008 season. |
| 20 |
LCU won the second set of the match 25-23. It is the 20th time (of 24 matches) in which LCU has won the set. Last season, LCU lost the second set in all 13 matches. |
| 28 |
The game featured the score tied up 28 times, which marks the third consecutive game in which LCU had a match with at least 28 occasions the score was tied in a set. |
| 19 |
Sage Chain produced 19 kills, which marked a career high. |
| 13 |
WT had 13.0 total blocks, which is the second highest by a Lady Chaps opponent this season, behind 14 by Texas Woman's. LCU won both contests despite the opponent's advantage in blocks. |
| 14 |
The win was LCU's 14th ever in 48 meetings against WT. LCU is now 14-33-1 against WT (7-13 at home). |
What's Next:
LCU closes out the regular season next week on the road, beginning with Friday at St. Edward's (Austin, Texas) and closing Saturday in San Antonio, Texas at St. Mary's.
