RICHARDSON, Texas (August 27, 2025) – The Lone Star Conference announced their 2025 Volleyball Preseason Poll, conducted by conference head coaches, sports information departments and media representatives, and Lubbock Christian University, behind LSC Players to Watch Lily Bickley (Offensive), Abby Benitez  (Defensive) and Jade Workman (Setter), are projected to finish eighth in the LSC.
 
LCU is coming off an 13-14 season, which included a 9-7 record in conference play (third consecutive season with a 9-7 conference mark). The Lady Chaps qualified for the LSC Championships for the first time since 2021.

Fielding a roster of 18 student-athletes, Lubbock Christian University volleyball opens the 2025 season with a mix of proven veterans and new depth as the Lady Chaps look to build on last year's Lone Star Conference tournament berth. Senior right-side hitter Lily Bickley (809 career kills) headlines a strong returning core alongside fellow seniors Payton Murray and Bryleigh Schweer and junior Tatum Fleitman, giving LCU four of its top five kill leaders back. The defense is anchored by veterans Abby Benitez, Olivia Elofsson, and Ramsey Clark, while reinforcements return in middle blocker Madyson Eberly and versatile setter/outside Jade Workman after injuries. LCU must replace three starters, including setter Kayton Genenbacher, but the roster's depth and experience provide optimism.
 
This season marks LCU's fifth season under coach Giboney. The Lady Chaps seventh head coach in program history preps for his 21st year of NCAA coaching. Giboney, who has four NCAA Tournament appearances and seven conference titles on his resume, surpassed 400 coaching victories in his first season with LCU and has a career coaching mark of 445-218. The Chaps head coach ranks as the 32^nd best-active head coach in win percentage (.671) and as the 24^th best-active head coach in victories (445). He has the third-highest win total of head coaches with 20 years-or-less of head coaching experience.
 
The Lady Chaps open a 28-match season, and their 47^th season in program history, in Pittsburg, Kan. September 5 at the Gorilla Classic (hosted by Pittsburg State). LCU will play 17 conference matches, playing each LSC program once, beginning Sept. 26 hosting Sul Ross State. The LSC will house 18 volleyball programs, which leads to LCU playing everyone once and the 17 matches sorted into nine home and eight road contests (in conference play).

Defending Lone Star Conference tournament champion and NCAA Division II national semifinalist Angelo State is predicted win the LSC volleyball title according to the 2025 preseason poll.  ASU totaled 933 points and collected 30 of the possible 54 first-place votes. Defending league champion West Texas A&M is picked as the conference runner-up with 919 points and 18 first-place votes. The Buffs went 26-5 overall and were undefeated in LSC play last season en route to their third straight title. WT has won a record 22 conference championships.
 
UT Tyler is predicted to finish in third place with 859 points and three first-place votes. The Patriots went 18-9 overall and 14-2 in league play last season.
 
DBU, which shared the conference title in 2023, is the fourth-place pick with 803 points and two first-place votes. Texas Woman's is fifth with 738 points, followed by St. Mary's (633 points), Oklahoma Christian (616 points) and Lubbock Christian (602 points) to round out what would be the potential eight qualifiers for the LSC tournament.
 
UT Permian Basin is predicted to finish ninth with 542 points and Texas A&M-Kingsville is 10th with 499 points. Midwestern State (436 points) is the No. 11 spot, followed by Texas A&M International (371 points), St. Edward's (319 points), new league member UT Dallas (272 points), Western New Mexico (265 points), Eastern New Mexico (204 points), Cameron (116 points) and Sul Ross State (107 points). TAMIU picked up the final first-place vote.
 
The LSC opens its 43rd season of volleyball with a new member among the 18 teams – UT Dallas – with schedules opening the September 4-6 weekend. The Lone Star Conference Tournament is slated November 20-22 hosted by the No. 1 seeded team. NCAA Division II Championship play begins with regionals December 4-6 and the final rounds December 11-13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
In addition to the preseason poll, the LSC recognized 54 student-athletes as Players to Watch heading into the season.
 
Senior right-side hitter Lily Bickley enters 2025 as one of the Lone Star Conference's top offensive threats and LCU's go-to scorer. A two-time All-LSC honoree and Academic All-District selection, Bickley has compiled 809 career kills and 166 blocks across 80 matches. She enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2024, ranking sixth in the LSC in hitting percentage (.340) and totaling 335 kills, 40 aces, and 414 points while leading the team in points per set (3.94). Bickley owns 28 career matches with double-digit kills, including a career-high 24 against DBU last fall. A consistent performer since her freshman year, she has raised her hitting efficiency each season while developing into one of the conference's most steady two-way players. With her blend of power and efficiency, Bickley is expected to anchor the Lady Chaps' offense again in 2025 while providing veteran leadership on the front line. This season marks a second consecutive season to be labeled as LCU's offensive player to watch.
 
A versatile weapon for the Lady Chaps, sophomore Jade Workman showed flashes of her all-around game before an injury cut short her 2024 freshman season. Appearing in 16 matches, Workman tallied 78 kills, 18 blocks, and 20 digs while also demonstrating her ability to set and attack across multiple rotations. She posted a season-high 16 kills against Texas A&M–Kingsville and recorded double-digit kills in back-to-back matches against West Texas A&M and TAMUK. Her strong prep career at Odessa Permian included over 1,500 kills and assists, and she is regarded as one of LCU's most flexible lineup options. Healthy entering 2025, Workman is expected to compete for a major role, bringing scoring punch and lineup flexibility to the Lady Chaps' rotation.
 
Senior defensive specialist and libero Abby Benitez gives the Lady Chaps valuable back-row experience and consistency. In her first season at LCU in 2024, the Weatherford College transfer appeared in 27 matches and collected 268 digs (2.58 per set), highlighted by a 25-dig effort against Minnesota Crookston. She also added 15 service aces and 20 assists, stabilizing LCU's serve-receive and transition defense. Before arriving in Lubbock, Benitez was a standout at Weatherford, where she helped the Coyotes to back-to-back NTJCAC titles, an NJCAA National Tournament appearance, and earned All-Conference honors as a sophomore after posting 537 digs. Known for her court coverage and steady passing, she provides leadership and experience to a defensive unit competing for the libero role in 2025. With more than 650 career collegiate digs across her NJCAA and NCAA seasons, Benitez is poised to be a key contributor in LCU's back row this fall.
 
The Lady Chaps are continuing their 2025 preparation and host their annual Blue / White Game Thursday at 5 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. A Johnsonville Tailgate will take place at 4 p.m., prior to the intersquad scrimmage, and a meet-and-greet will take part after the match, as the event serves as LCU's Athletic Kickoff event.