LUBBOCK, Texas (November 8, 2024) – Despite a 64-57 edge in kills, with Lily Bickley matching her career-high of 19 (on her birthday), and setter Kayton Genenbacher recording the third-highest assist total (57) in a four-set match for LCU since the rally scoring system began in 2008, the Lady Chaps fell to Oklahoma Christian in a hard-fought Lone Star Conference matchup, dropping a four-set battle (24-26, 16-25, 25-23, 23-25) at Rip Griffin Center.
The Lady Chaps' first home loss of the season dropped Lubbock Christian to 12-11 overall and 8-5 in Lone Star Conference play. Lily Bickley led the offense with 19 kills and an impressive .459 hitting percentage, while Payton Murray added 15 kills and Bryleigh Schweer contributed 12. Rounding out the quartet of double-digit scorers, Kiana Fallaha posted 10 kills. Kayton Genenbacher also made a big impact, dishing out 57 assists. Defensively, LCU had three players in double figures for digs, with Leddy Rae Guinn recording 27, Olivia Elofsson adding 14, and Ramsey Clark contributing 10.
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian had four players in double figures in kills. Bickley's 19 kills matched a career high.
» The Lady Chaps fell to 9-2 on the season when leading in kills, as they had a 64-57 advantage Friday.
» Lily Bickley produced 22.0 points, as she had an ace and four blocks to go along with her 19 kills. Her 19 kills ranked tied for eighth since 1998 for most kills in a four-set match. Her 22 points tied as the fifth most since 2008 and the most since Emily Hanaway had 22 points on Sept. 12, 2017 against UT Permian Basin.
» Lubbock Christian got a match-high 27 digs from Freshman Leddy Rae Guinn. Her sixth performance of at least 20 digs.
» Lubbock Christian's attackers benefited from a match-high 57 assists from Kayton Genenbacher. LCU tallied 61 assists, tying for the fourth-highest total in a four-set match since 2008—a mark they've reached twice this season (previously on Oct. 11 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville). Genenbacher's 57 assists also rank as the third-most in a four-set match since 2008, and the highest single-game total since Erin Fisher recorded 62 assists on Nov. 15, 2013, against McMurry.
» Oklahoma Christian countered LCU's offensive stats with aces and blocks. They posted 17.0 blocks, which matches a high (Fresno Pacific) by an LCU opponent this season. The Eagles also had an 8-2 advantage in serving aces. The Eagles received a double-double from freshman Chloe Jones, who had 15 kills and 11 digs.
» OC defeats LCU for their first time in program history. LCU now falls to 7-1 all-time against the Eagles.
» The Lady Chaps fall to 4-1 at home on the season.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps came up short in a back-and-forth opening set, losing 26-24 in a game that featured five lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than three points in the set. OC overcame a 19-16 deficit by closing the set on a 10-5 scoring surge. LCU dropped the frame despite a 19-13 kill advantage and five kills each from Bickley and Schweer.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian then lost set two 25-16 to fall behind in the match two sets to none. Lubbock Christian trailed by as many as nine points as Oklahoma Christian opened the set on a 7-2 run. In the shadows of set loss was Bickley, who had five kills on eight attacks in the set.
SET 3 | After dropping the opening two sets, Lubbock Christian rallied to win the third set and make it a 2-1 match. The Lady Chaps trailed by as many as six points, but took the lead for good at 23-22 (a 9-4 LCU scoring advantage placed LCU with the 23-22 lead). The Lady Chaps, who won the set 25-23, racked up 21 kills over the course of the set. Murray led LCU with six in the set, and Bickley added five.
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian couldn't keep the rally going and lost in the fourth set 25-23 to drop the match. The Lady Chaps came up short in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied nine times (tied as late as 19-19). Neither team opened up a lead of more than four points along the way. Bickley and Murray each had four kills in the final set.
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home Saturday, as LCU hosts Cameron at 2 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center for a Lone Star Conference match.
