LUBBOCK, Texas (September 8. 2023) -- The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps took care of business in four sets (25-22, 25-18, 17-25, 25-15, 25-15), taking down the Southern Arkansas Muleriders Friday in their Rip Griffin Center home opener. The win, LCU's fifth consecutive win to open the season (5-0) marks their sixth consecutive win in a home opener.
The Lady Chaps offense was paced by Kiana Fallaha, who finished with 16 kills on the day, and combined for 27 kills with Lily Bickley, who had 11 kills. LCU received 10 digs from Ramsey Clark along with six blocks from Kalli Dalland to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Olivia Elofsson had a career and team-high three aces in the win. The two teams combined for 17 aces, with 10 by SAU, which marked the second consecutive match LCU's opponent had at least 10 aces.
» Lubbock Christian never trailed on the way to winning the second set 25-18.
» Lubbock Christian never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-15.
» Kalli Dalland led LCU with six blocks and the tally is the most by a Lady Chaps member this season.
» Kiana Fallaha had a match-high 16 kills for Lubbock Christian. She was coming off her career-high 25-kill performance at MSU Billings and has 51 kills in the last three matches played.
» Lubbock Christian got a match-high 10 digs from Ramsey Clark. She has two double-figure dig performances on the season and they have come in the last two matches (22 in the span).
» Lubbock Christian attackers were helped by a match-high 39 assists from Kayton Genenbacher. She was a dig shy of a double-double and also had six kills.
» LCU is 12-3 in home openers since 2008 and Friday's win marked their sixth consecutive win in a home opener.
» The win even the all-time series between the two programs (2-2), as they were meeting for the first time since Sept. 24, 1994 (in Magnolia, Ark.). SAU had won the previous two meetings.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps opened up an early 1-0 set lead, winning the first set 25-22. Lubbock Christian trailed early and overcame deficits of 5-1 and 15-10 before a 10-2 LCU run put them up 20-17. Lubbock Christian also supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening set. Fallaha led LCU with six kills in the frame.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian won the second set 25-18 to quickly take a 2-0 lead. The Lady Chaps led from the opening point on in the set to earn the victory. Lubbock Christian opened up as much as an 11 point lead at 19-8 before finishing off the set. Fallaha paced the LCU offense with five kills in the set.
SET 3 | Southern Arkansas stayed alive with a set-three victory to make it a 2-1 match. The Lady Chaps lost the first point and never clawed back into the lead before falling in the set 25-17. The Muleriders utilized a 9-1 run for a 10-3 lead. Madyson Eberle led LCU in the set with four kills and helped LCU cut their deficit to two points on a pair of occasions before the Muleriders claimed the set.
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian then responded to close out the match with a 25-15 fourth-set victory. The Lady Chaps took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to secure the victory. LCU hit .419 in the stanza and pulled away with a 10-1 run to cruise to the finish line. Fallaha had another big set with five kills.
What's Next
LCU wraps up their Friday with Arkansas Tech (scheduled for 5:30 p.m.), as the Chap Classic continues.
This article was assisted with technology provided by Data Skrive.
