LUBBOCK, Texas (October 11, 2024) – After opening the season with their first 14 matches away from home, Lubbock Christian University made a strong return to Rip Griffin Center, posting 67 kills in a 3-1 victory (23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20) over Texas A&M-Kingsville in their Lone Star Conference home opener Friday.
The conference win improved Lubbock Christian's record to 7-8 overall and 3-2 in LSC play. An important win, as TAMUK (10-6 overall and 2-3 in the LSC) and LCU were the only LSC teams entering the day with even 2-2 records in the conference standings.
The Lady Chaps offense was paced by freshman Jade Workman, who finished with 16 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .278. Bryleigh Schweer and Payton Murray each added 14 kills as part of a Lubbock Christian attack that had four players with double-digit kills. Lily Bickley led LCU with 18.5 points, as she had 13 kills, five aces and a block. She was a dig away from her first career double-double. Kayton Genenbacher contributed as well by serving up 56 assists. The Lady Chaps also received 15 digs from Leddy Rae Guinn and three blocks from Schweer to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian had four players in double figures in kills, and all four had at least 13 kills. LCU registered 67 kills and 61 assists in the match. Each mark was their highest total in a four-set match since they had 70 kills and 66 assists in a four-set match against McMurry on Nov. 15, 2013.
» Lily Bickley had a match-high and career-high five aces in the win. The total is the third-highest total in a four-set match since 2008 and the most since Chloe Menard had six in a four-set match on Sept. 23, 2023 against Oklahoma Christian.
» Payton Murray, who leads LCU in conference play in kills (66 kills) had a 14-kill outing for Lubbock Christian. She has produced at least 10 kills in four consecutive matches and five of her last six contests.
» Jade Workman had a match-high 16 kills for Lubbock Christian. She was coming off a career-high 12-kill performance Saturday at No.9 West Texas A&M, which was her first match to reach double figures in kills.
» Lubbock Christian attackers were helped by a match-high 56 assists from Kayton Genenbacher. The mark was the most by a Lady Chaps setter in a four-set match since Erin Fischer contributed 62 in the previously mentioned McMurry match on Nov. 15, 2023.
» Lubbock Christian won their seventh consecutive home opener. They improved to 13-3 in home openers since 2008.
» TAMUK had a nine-kill and seven-block performance from Ayanna Jackson, who hit .533 on the evening.
» The Lady Chaps evened the all-time series to 6-6, as the teams were meeting for the 12th time all-time. LCU improved to 3-1 all-time at home against the Javelinas.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps found themselves in an early hole, dropping a close first set 25-23. Texas A&M-Kingsville grabbed the advantage for good at 11-10 in a set that was tied up five times before the Javelinas took over the lead. LCU fell despite an early 8-3 lead. Workman (5) and Murray (4) combined for nine kills in the set.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian rallied from a first-set loss to take set two 25-19, evening the match at one set apiece. The Lady Chaps scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the victory. Lubbock Christian opened up as much as an eight-point lead at 23-15 before finishing off the set, totaling 22 kills in the process. The Lady Chaps hit .349 over the course of a set where they racked up 22 kills. Schweer (7) and Workman (5) combined for 12 kills, as LCU had six different players producing multiple kills in the frame. Genenbacher had 18 assists in the set.
SET 3 | Lubbock Christian won again in the third set to make it a 2-1 match. The Lady Chaps won the set 25-18 propelled by a solid showing on the attacking end. Lubbock Christian registered a .652 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. The Lady Chaps received a combined 11 kills in the set from Murray (6) and Bickley (5).
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian closed out the match with a 25-20 fourth-set victory, winning their third set in a row. The Lady Chaps took control of the set at 5-4 and held the lead the rest of the way. Lubbock Christian led by six points at 17-11 before finishing off the stanza, totaling 17 kills. Schweer (5) and Bickley (4) had nice endings to the match, as they combined for nine kills in the final set.
WHAT'S NEXT
Saturday is LCU's Play for the Cure Pink Game, as the LCU SAAC is organizing the match with all proceeds benefiting "Ally's Wish." The match is a 2 p.m. Lone Star Conference match against Texas A&M-Kingsville inside Rip Griffin Center.
