Match Information
Score: Pittsburg State 3, Lubbock Christian 1 (25-23, 25-22, 25-18, 25-19)
Records: Lubbock Christian (0-2), Pittsburg State (1-1)
Location: Alaska Airlines Center – Anchorage, Alaska

Highlights
In a match featuring 19 occurrences of the score tied in a set and lead changes in every set, Lubbock Christian University was unable to use several career-high performances to fall on the positive end of things. Setter Kayton Genenbacher notched a double-double (40 assists, 13 digs), to go along with a career-high five kills, and true freshman Lily Bickley produced 13 kills, but the Lady Chaparrals fell 3-1 to Pittsburg State Friday night inside Alaska Airlines Center at Seawolf Invitational. LCU also received a career-high 10 kills from Kiana Fallaha. PSU was led by double-doubles from Brianna Richard (40 assists, 12 digs) and Meg Auten (15 kills, 25 digs). Auten was joined in double figure production in kills by Seville Gates (14 kills).  

How It Happened

Set One:
LCU fell behind early, as PSU opened the game with a 4-1 lead. The Lady Chaps chipped away and came back to tie the set at 14-14. They eventually led 18-15, but the lead didn't hold up, as PSU tied the set at 20-20. A kill by Phoenix Bailey clinched the set for the Gorillas 25-23.  Gates (5) and Auten (4) combined for nine kills in the frame. Sage Chain led LCU with four kills.       

Set Two:
Lubbock Christian controlled most of the early momentum, as they used a 6-3 run and built a 15-10 lead. The Lady Chaps received three consecutive kills from Bickley to lead 23-17, but a 5-0 Gorillas run cut LCU's lead to 23-22. Bickley followed a serving error with a block to help LCU claim the set 25-22 to tie the match 1-1. Bickley finished with five kills in the set to lead all players.

Set Three:
LCU rode the momentum from the second set into the third set, as a Kalli Dalland ace resulted in a 6-2 LCU lead. PSU called a timeout and it proceeded with a 5-0 run to lead 7-6. The set was tight until PSU went on a 7-1 run to take a 20-13. The Gorillas won the set 25-18 behind five kills in the frame from Jayden Sanford.  Bickley led LCU with four kills in the set.
 
Set Four:
The Gorillas notched the first point of the fourth set, but LCU followed with a 7-2 run featuring a pair of serving aces from Kendall Mahaney. PSU rallied back with an 11-4 run to take a 15-12 lead, and also added a 5-1 run for a 22-15 advantage. Auten had six kills in the set, including the clinching kill for a 25-19 set win. PSU produced 17 kills in the final set.
 
Inside the Numbers:

0-2	The Lady Chaps fall to 0-2 on the season. They last opened a season 0-2 in 2018 (and in 2013 prior), but they bounced back with a five-match win streak
3	Hailey Cournoyer produced a trio of blocks in her first match back with the Lady Chaps. She suffered a season-ending injury on January 26, 2021 (second game of the COVID-shortened season that was moved to the spring), which forced her to miss the remainder of that season and the 2021 fall season.
10	LCU had 11.0 total blocks in the match, with Kiana Fallaha producing a career-high five blocks. LCU had five solo blocks, which matches last season's season high (Sept. 17 vs. Arkansas Fort Smith). Lily Bickley had three solo blocks which ties as the fifth-most since 2008, and it's the first time since Sage Chain had three solo blocks on Oct. 25 against West Texas A&M.
26	Kendall Mahaney produced 26 digs, which was two shy of her career-high mark (28).
2-1	The win by PSU marked their program's first win over LCU, as they had been 0-2 all-time against the Lady Chaparrals.

 
Next
LCU remains in Anchorage Saturday to face Alaska Fairbanks (9 a.m. CT) and Emmanuel College (7:30 p.m. CT) for their final matches in Alaska.