BILLINGS, Mont. (September 2, 2023) - Kianna Fallaha and Kayton Genenbacher had career-high performances and the Lady Chaps bounced back from a 2-1 set deficit to claim a 3-2 victory against the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets Saturday on the road at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The match, which officially goes down as LCU's first road match of the season, gives LCU their first road win of the season, and they improve their mark to 4-0 on the fresh season.

The Lady Chaps were led by a double-double from junior Fallaha, who registered a career-high 25 kills and 11 digs in the contest. Genenbacher, also a junior, also had a double-double, which included 63 assists (matched a career high) and 20 digs. Freshman Madyson Eberly also added 12 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, senior Chloe Menard chipped in a career-high 30 digs to go with five blocks from senior Kalli Dalland.

Game Notes

» Lubbock Christian had four players in double figures in kills, led by Kiana Fallaha's 25 kills. The 25 kills are the most by a Lady Chap since Ashley Vanfleet had 26 against West Texas A&M on Oct. 30, 2018. The total ties as the third-most since the 2008 season by a Lady Chaps member. LCU finished as a team with 72 kills, which is the most since producing 75 against Newman on Oct. 16, 2014 (sixth-most as a team since 2008 season when match-by-match records by the team were tracked). The Lady Chaps had a 72-54 advantage in the match in kills.
» Lubbock Christian had five players in double figures in digs. Of those in double figures, Chloe Menard (30), Olivia Elofsson (18) and Ramsey Clark (12) each had career highs in the category. Menard's 30 assists are the most by a Lady Chaps member since Jalee Sims posted 30 at UT Permian Basin on Feb. 2, 2021.
» Freshman Madyson Eberly and Kayton Genenbacher each had a team-high three aces in the win, but LCU's total of nine was below MSUB's total of 13 aces. LCU records on game-by-game statistics by opponents begin during the 2008 season, and MSUB's 13 aces are the highest allowed by the Lady Chaps.
» Kiana Fallaha registered a double-double with 25 kills and 11 digs, which is the second of the season and for her career. Saturday, Fallaha had 72 attack attempts and 29 points, which are each the highest single-game totals by a Lady Chaps member going back since the 2008 logs were kept on game-by-game statistics.
» LCU claimed a win in their first five-set match of the season. LCU went 3-2 last season in five-set decisions.
» Lubbock Christian attackers were helped by a match-high 63 assists from Kayton Genenbacher. which is tied for the third-most in a match by a Lady Chaps member since 2008. Genenbacher completes the task for a second time, as she had 63 against Colo. Colorado Springs on Sept.3, 3022, and both marks are the highest since Bradi Marshall distributed 64 against West Texas A&M on Oct. 30, 2018. As a team, LCU had 65, which is tied for the ninth-most since 2008 and the most since they had 66 in the same Sept. 3, 2022 performance.
» LCU's 4-0 season start is their best start since a 5-0 start in 2014.
» The second set lost by LCU ended a sequence of 10 straight set wins, which are the most since they won 12 consecutive sets from Sept. 11-24, 2021.
» Montana State Billings and LCU were meeting for the first time (all-time). It was LCU's first meeting against a Montana based program since a 3-1 loss to Providence (formerly Great Falls) in Las Vegas, Nev. on Sept. 1, 2012. LCU played four matches in Vegas and all were against Montana based programs (including a 3-1 win over Billings based No.7 Rocky Mountain College, which was the last time LCU defeated a nationally ranked opponent at a neutral site event), which has LCU leaving Billings 6-2 all-time against teams from Montana.  
» Both LCU and MSUB are former members of the Heartland Conference. 
» The overall match featured 15 lead changes and the score tied 28 times, as it lasted nearly three hours.
 

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Lady Chaps survived a back-and-forth first set to win 25-21 in a stanza that featured five lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than four points in the match. The Lady Chaps opening set win came in a stanza where 18 of their 25 points came via the kill. They closed the set on a 6-1 run.

SET 2 | Lubbock Christian lost set two 25-22 to tie the match 1-1. The Lady Chaps trailed by as many as six points (13-7) as Montana State-Billings grabbed the advantage for good at 20-19 in a set that was knotted up four times before the Yellowjackets took over in the second half of the stanza.

SET 3 | Lubbock Christian then dropped their second consecutive set, falling behind in the match two sets to one. The Lady Chaps came up short by the score of 25-20. Montana State-Billings grabbed the advantage for good at 17-16 in a set that was tied up five times before the Yellowjackets ended the set on a 9-5 run.

SET 4 | Lubbock Christian forced a fifth set with a 25-23 victory in set number four. The Lady Chaps took the lead for good at 22-21 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Lady Chaps overcame a 6-1 MSUB run with a 7-1 run to take the set. The Lady Chaps had 19 of their 25 points produced via kills.

SET 5 | Lubbock Christian rebounded from down 2-1 to win two straight sets, culminating in a 15-12 fifth-set victory. Pinpoint serving helped the Lady Chaps take set five and the match. Lubbock Christian recorded three aces in the set win. After the lead changed hands three times, the Lady Chaps took control for good at 11-10 and rode that advantage to victory. LCU trailed 5-1 and 8-5 before closing the set and match with a 6-2 scoring surge. The match-point was originally granted to MSUB, but LCU head coach Keith Giboney challenged the call, which was reversed in LCU's favor to claim the winning point.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM:

• MVP – Kiana Fallaha – Outside Hitter from Lubbock Christian University

• D'Nari Mills – Outside Hitter from Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Abigail Renner – Outside Hitter from Black Hills State University
• Kayton Genenbacher – Setter from Lubbock Christian University
• Julia Gordon – Middle Blocker from MSU Billings
• Paiten Langston – Middle Blocker from MSU Billings
• Christine Funk – Libero from MSU Billings

Kiana Fallaha was named the Yellowjacket Invitational Most Valuable Player after posting 62 kills in four matches. She recorded a pair of double-doubles and produced averages of 4.13 kills and 2.4 digs per set. Kayton Genenbacher combined for 168 assists and 49 digs in four matches. She had a pair of double-doubles and was paced with 11.2 assists and 3.27 digs per set. This season marks the second consecutive season Genenbacher claims All-Tournament honors at a season-opening event, as she was named All-Tournament last season at the Seawolves Invitational in Anchorage, Alaska.

What's Next

LCU hosts the Chap Classic at Rip Griffin Center Sept 8-9, where they will play three matches. They open Friday at 1:30 p.m., hosting Southern Arkansas for their home opener.

 

This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.