WICHITA FALLS, Texas (October 4, 2023) --The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals bounced back from a 2-1 match deficit on head coach Keith Giboney's birthday and provided him with a rally over the final two sets to defeat Midwestern State 3-2 in a Lone Star Conference road match inside DL Ligon Coliseum Wednesday night to open a four-match road trip.
The conference win improved Lubbock Christian's record to 10-5 overall and 2-3 in LSC play. They are 2-1 in LSC road matches.
The Lady Chaps were led by a double-doubles from Kiana Fallaha, who registered 19 kills and 15 digs, and Kayton Genenbacher, who notched 54 assists and 14 digs. Lacie Schooley registered a career-high 13 kills, and was joined with a 13-kill performance from Payton Murray, who was one shy of matching a career high. On the defensive end, five Lady Chaps had double-figures in digs, and they received four blocks from Lily Bickley (had 11 kills offensively).
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian had four players in double figures in kills, with Fallaha leading the way with 19 kills and hitting .390, which was her highest hitting mark of the season with at least 15 kills. She has 12 matches with at least 10 kills on the season.
» Lubbock Christian had five players in double figures in digs. Fallaha led with 15 digs, and she was followed by Genenbacher (14), Chloe Menard (13), Olivia Elofsson (11) and Ramsey Clark (11).
» Nine different players (both teams) had an ace in the match, but no player had more than one.Teams combined for 12 serving errors (seven by MSU). The match ended with an ace from Fallaha.
» Kiana Fallaha registered a double-double with 19 kills and 15 digs for her eight double-double of the season and her career.
» Kayton Genenbacher recorded her eighth double-double of the season as well, and it was her 19th of her LCU career.
» Lubbock Christian attackers were helped by a match-high 54 assists from Kayton Genenbacher and helped LCU hit .286 for their best hitting mark on the road this season. The 54-assist performance marked her third 50-plus assist match of the season and sixth of her career.
» LCU improved to 32-17 all-time against MSU and 13-8 all-time in Wichita Falls against the Mustangs. Lubbock Christian has won 16 of the last 19 matches against MSU.
» Lubbock Christian is now 3-1 on the road this season.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps found themselves in an early hole, dropping a close first set 25-23. Midwestern State grabbed the advantage for good at 24-23 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Mustangs took over in the second half of the stanza. Payton Murray, playing in her hometown area for the first time as a Lady Chaps member, led LCU with four kills in the set.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian rallied from a first-set loss to take set two 25-18, evening the match at one set apiece. The Lady Chaps earned the set victory with the help of a strong showing on the attacking side. Lubbock Christian put together a .424 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. The Lady Chaps ended on a strong note, closing the frame on a 10-3 run. Murray, Fallaha and Schooley each had four kills in the set.
SET 3 | Midwestern State took a 2-1 match lead after taking down the Lady Chaps in the third set. The Lady Chaps lost the third set 25-23. Midwestern State grabbed the advantage for good at 20-19 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Mustangs took over in the second half of the set. MSU had a 20-10 advantage in kills in the set (six by Lauryn Bourne).
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian then responded to secure set four 25-19 to force a fifth set. The Lady Chaps took control of the set at 2-1 and held the lead the rest of the way. Lubbock Christian led by seven points at 13-6 before closing out the set, collecting 15 kills while only notching two attack errors along the way. Fallaha had a whopping eight kills in the set off 14 attempts.
SET 5 | Down two sets to one, Lubbock Christian fired back to win the final two sets, culminating in a 15-9 fifth-set victory, to take the match 3-2. The Lady Chaps took set five thanks to a strong performance on the attacking side. Lubbock Christian registered a .412 attack percentage with seven kills in the set win. The Lady Chaps ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the set and match. Bickley led LCU with three kills in the final set.
Next Up
LCU remains on the road, continuing to Austin Texas, where they will face St. Edward's Friday at 6 p.m. for a LSC match.
Portions of this article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
