LUBBOCK, Texas (September 14, 2023) -- Payton Murray had a career outing and Kiana Fallaha and Kayton Genenbacher each had double-double performance, but the outings were not enough, as the Lady Chaparrals lost to the Texas-Permian Basin Falcons in five sets (25-23, 15-25, 25-27, 25-19, 11-15) Thursday in their opening game of the LSC Crossover at Rip Griffin Center.
The non-conference loss dropped Lubbock Christian to 7-1 on the season, as it was their first loss of the season and ended an eight-match win streak carrying over from last season.
The Lady Chaps were led by a double-double from Fallaha, who registered 19 kills and 12 digs on the day. Murray also added a career-high 14 kills and four blocks to help the Lady Chaps cause. It was LCU's seniors on the defensive end, as Chloe Menard chipped in with 21 digs to go with seven blocks from Kalli Dalland (three solo).
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian had five players in double figures in digs. Menard led LCU 21, and she was followed up by Ramsey Clark (15), Olivia Elofsson (14), Fallaha (12) and Genenbacher (11).
» Fallaha registered a double-double with 19 kills and 12 digs, which was her fourth career double-double and her fourth of the season.
» Fallaha had a match-high 19 kills for Lubbock Christian, which was her second-highest total of the season.
» Lubbock Christian attackers were helped by a match-high 53 assists from Kayton Genenbacher, which was her second-highest total of the season.
» LCU fell to 1-1 in five-set matches this season.
» The Lady Chaps opened the match with 19 kills in the first set, which matches their season high for a single-set. LCU also had 19 in a set played at MSU Billings on Sept.2.
» LCU produced a season-high 10 team blocks. Going into last season, LCU has now lost the last four matches in which they have produced at least 10 blocks.
»The match featured the score tied 45 times and with 15 lead changes. The first and fifth set each had five lead changes.
» UTPB ended LCU's two-match win streak in the all-time series. The two teams were meeting for a 51st time (all-time) and LCU fell for a 10th time all-time against the Falcons. LCU dropped to 51-10 all-time against UTPB.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps survived a back-and-forth first set to win 25-23 in a stanza that featured five lead changes and the match tied 14 times. Neither team led by more than three points in the match. The Lady Chaps opening set win came in a stanza where 19 of their 25 points came via the kill. Fallaha led LCU with eight kills in the set.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian then lost set two 25-15, evening the match at a set apiece. The Lady Chaps dropped the first point and UTPB led throughout in the frame. Madyson Eberle and Payton Murray co-led LCU with three kills in the set.
SET 3 | A third-set loss put Lubbock Christian down 2-1. The Lady Chaps couldn't hang on in a back-and-forth battle, losing 27-25 in a set that featured five lead changes and was tied 14 times. Neither team had a lead of more than four points along the way. Fallaha led LCU with six kills in the set.
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian broke their two-set losing streak and forced a fifth set with a 25-19 victory in set number four. The Lady Chaps took the lead for good at 12-11 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Lady Chaps took over the lead. Lubbock Christian also supplemented their offense with three aces in the set. Lubbock Christian got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Texas-Permian Basin attacks in the stanza. Lily Bickley had one of the blocks and she led LCU with six kills in the set.
SET 5 | After dropping sets two and three, Lubbock Christian won set four, tying things up at 2-2 to force a fifth set, but couldn't complete the comeback, losing the set 15-11 and the match 3-2. The Lady Chaps battled back from an 8-3 deficit and had a lead early in the set at 10-9 before Texas-Permian Basin took over for the 15-11 set win. Murray and Fallaha each had two kills in the extra frame, as LCU was in a 12-4 disadvantage in kills during the set.
What's Next
LCU remains home Friday, as the LSC Crossover continues with LCU hosting Texas Woman's at 6 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.
Portions of this article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
