LUBBOCK, Texas (September 12, 2025) – The Rip Griffin Center hosted a full slate of action Friday with five matches on tap at the MCM Elegante Chap Classic. Three of the contests stretched to five sets, including both of Lubbock Christian University's showdowns. The Lady Chaps opened with a gritty 3–2 comeback victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State, but later saw a two-set lead slip away against Fort Lewis College, dropping a 25–23 fourth set and a 15–13 deciding frame to fall 3–2.
 
GAME 1 – vs. SWOSU
Lubbock Christian survived a five-set thriller, rallying behind a balanced attack and strong back-row play to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State 3–2 (17–25, 25–19, 16–25, 25–22, 15–12). The victory moved the Lady Chaps to 4–3 overall on the season.
 
Lubbock Christian had four players record double-digit kills or points, led by Payton Murray's 12 kills and three blocks. Tatum Fleitman swung efficiently with 11 kills at a .450 clip, while Lily Bickley tallied 10 kills. Bryleigh Schweer added five kills and five blocks.
 
Setter Camdyn Sears and Jade Workman combined for 43 assists, distributing to multiple hitters. Defensively, libero Abby Dominguez turned in a standout performance with a team-high 19 digs, six assists, and an ace.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma (2–4, 0–0 GAC) was paced by Hailey Smith's 14 kills and nine blocks. Paris Patterson added 10 kills and 10 digs, and Kaylyn Christy chipped in 11 kills. Setter Cameron Turner directed the attack with 37 assists.
 
Game Notes
» LCU produced 13.0 blocks, which is their seventh-highest total in a five-set match and 11^th-highest overall block total since rally scoring started (2008). Along with the 22 block assists, each total is the highest since LCU had 16.0 blocks and 32 block assists on Sept. 12, 2024 against Texas A&M International. Individually, Madyson Eberly and Schweer each had five blocks, with Eberly notching a career high in the category.
 
» Lubbock Christian had three players in double figures in kills – Murray (12), Fleitman (11) and Bickley (10). Bickley and Murray each reached 10 kills for a second consecutive match and for the third time this season, while Fleitman's 11 kills was a career high and marked her third career match with at least 10 kills.  

» Dominguez led all players with 19 digs, while Cavalier and Sears added 14 and nine respectively. Cavalier's 14 digs was a season high for the freshman.

» LCU improved to 6-2 all-time against SWOSU, as they claimed their third consecutive win over the Bulldogs.
 
How It Happened
 
SET 1 | SWOSU 25, LCU 17
Southwestern Oklahoma opened the first set with a 3–0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Cameron Turner and a pair of LCU attack errors. The Bulldogs extended the margin to 9–4 behind three early kills from Kaylyn Christy and maintained separation with an 8–3 surge capped by a block and kill from Katja Blanchat for a 15–7 lead. Lubbock Christian responded with five straight points, including kills from Jade Workman and Bryleigh Schweer, to cut the deficit to 16–13, but SWOSU regained momentum with a 6–0 spurt featuring a service ace from Jada Permenter and two Christy kills. Despite late kills from Payton Murray, the Bulldogs closed out the frame 25–17 behind Christy's sixth kill of the set. Schweer and Murray each had three kills in the set for LCU.
 
SET 2 | LCU 25, SWOSU 19
Lubbock Christian opened the second set with a 4–0 run featuring kills from Camryn Blair, Lily Bickley, and Tatum Fleitman, all assisted by Camdyn Sears. Southwestern Oklahoma countered with four straight points, including back-to-back service aces from Paris Patterson, to tie the frame 4–4. The Lady Chaps regained control behind a 6–1 surge capped by two attack errors and a ball-handling miscue, building an 11–6 advantage. LCU later used another 6–1 spurt, highlighted by kills from Fleitman and Bickley, to extend the margin to 20–12. SWOSU rallied with a 7–2 run, trimming the deficit to 22–19 behind Hailey Smith's pair of kills and a service ace from Jenna Houk. Out of a timeout, LCU closed the set with three straight points, capped by consecutive kills from Bryleigh Schweer, Murray and Sears, to claim the frame 25–19 and even the match. Murray had another trio of kills in the frame, and it co-led the team with Bickley.
 
SET 3 | SWOSU 25, LCU 16
Southwestern Oklahoma surged to a 4–0 start in the third set behind two kills from Hailey Smith, one from Katja Blanchat, and a combined block. After LCU trimmed the margin to 7–5 with back-to-back points, the Bulldogs pushed ahead 14–7 on a 7–2 spurt. The Lady Chaps responded with a 5-2 run, including blocks by Bryleigh Schweer, Payton Murray, and Tatum Fleitman, cutting it to 16–12. SWOSU countered with five straight points fueled by three blocks (all three involving Sydney Winfrey) and an ace from Jada Permenter, extending the lead to 22–12. Despite late kills from Madyson Eberly and Murray, the Bulldogs closed the set 25–16 on a block from Sydnee Winfrey and Kaylyn Christy. Fleitman led LCU with three kills in the set.
 
SET 4 | LCU 25, SWOSU 22
In the fourth set, SWOSU started strong with a 5-1 lead, aided by Jada Permenter's service ace and Turner's precise assists. However, the Lady Chaps responded with a series of blocks, including a joint effort from Eberly and Murray, narrowing the score to 5-4. The teams exchanged points, with Murray and Emilee Sikora each contributing key kills for the Chaparrals, maintaining a tight score line. As the set progressed, SWOSU briefly pulled ahead to 20-17, but the Chaps staged a comeback, tying the game at 21-21. The decisive moment came with Abby Dominguez's service ace, propelling Lubbock Christian to a 24-22 lead, and Sikora's kill sealed the set at 25-22 for the home team. Sikora, who set out the second and third sets, led LCU with five kills in the frame.
 
SET 5 | LCU 15, SWOSU 12
In the decisive fifth set between the Chaparrals and SWOSU, Lubbock Christian managed to secure an early lead with a series of kills from Fleitman and Eberly. SWOSU responded with a run, highlighted by a service ace from Winfrey that put them ahead 9-6. However, the Chaps quickly regrouped with a kill by Bickley and a crucial block from Sikora and Bickley to tie the set at 10-10. Lubbock Christian's Workman delivered a pivotal service ace, and Murray sealed the match with a kill, leading to a 15-12 victory in the final set. Fleitman moved into double figures in kills in the set, producing three in the set.
 
GAME 2 – vs. FLC
In their second consecutive five-set battle, Lubbock Christian dropped a heartbreaker to Fort Lewis 3–2 (21–25, 21–25, 25–20, 25–23, 15–13). The Lady Chaps fell to 4–4 overall, while Fort Lewis improved to 5–1.
 
Lubbock Christian had four players in double figures offensively, paced by Emilee Sikora's 17 kills, 20 digs and two aces for a double-double. Lily Bickley and Payton Murray each tallied 13 kills, with Bickley adding three blocks. Setter Jade Workman contributed a double-double with 20 assists and 11 kills, while Camdyn Sears handed out 30 assists and posted 18 digs to also complete a double-double. Abby Dominguez anchored the back row with 17 digs and an ace, and Madyson Eberly and Bryleigh Schweer chipped in with key blocks.
 
Fort Lewis countered with four attackers in double figures, led by Cambria Freymuth's 20 kills and 18 digs. Jordan DeJesus and Ella Butler combined for 27 kills, while Alina Nunez added 13. Setter Arianna Reyna dished out 40 assists with two aces, and libero Emery Pomroy tallied 27 digs.
 
Game Notes
» Sikora posted a double-double with 17 kills and 20 digs, leading all players with 19.5 points. All marks, along with two aces, are season/career highs for the freshman.

» Four Lady Chaps reached double-digit kills (Sikora 17, Murray 13, Bickley 13, Workman 11). Bickley and Murray reach double figures in kills for a third consecutive match and for a fourth time this season (Bickley's 44^th career double-figure match in kills and 31^st for Murray). Workman reached her second match of 10-or-more kills of the season and fourth of her career.

» Freshman Camdyn Sears (30 assists, 18 digs) registered her fourth double-double of the season.

» Jade Workman had 11 kills and 20 digs for her first career double-double. She also added nine digs, as she was one shy of completing a triple-double. The last Lady Chaps member to have a triple-double was Marla Lowery, who had 27 digs,13 kills and 10 blocks against Houston Baptist on Oct. 5, 1990.
 
» With LCU's split of five-set decisions, LCU is 1-2 this season when matches go to a fifth set.

» FLC edges LCU 3-2 in the all-time series with the win. It ends a streak of two wins by the Lady Chaps in the all-time series, and it is the Skyhawks first win over the Lady Chaps since Sept. 9, 1995.
 
How It Happened
 
SET 1 | LCU 25, FLC 21
Lubbock Christian seized the momentum early with Lily Bickley and Jade Workman each contributing kills to establish a 4-2 lead. Fort Lewis responded with Ella Butler and Cambria Freymuth keeping the score tight, leveling it at 5-5. However, the Chaparrals capitalized on a series of Fort Lewis attack errors and a service ace by Emilee Sikora to pull ahead 19-15. Despite a late push by the Skyhawks with Jordan DeJesus delivering critical kills, the Chaps maintained their advantage and secured the set with a 25-21 victory after Tatum Fleitman completed a kill.
 
SET 2 | LCU 25, FLC 21
The Lady Chaps and Fort Lewis exchanged points early until a critical service ace from Jade Workman tied the score at 5-5. The Skyhawks gained a slight edge with a 4-2 run, but the Chaps responded with a series of kills by Payton Murray and Tatum Fleitman, bringing the score to 15-15. The Chaparrals surged ahead with a decisive 6-0 run highlighted by strong contributions from Murray and Lily Bickley, making it 21-15. Despite a late push from Fort Lewis, including multiple kills by Cambria Freymuth, Lubbock Christian secured the set with a final kill by Bickley, winning 25-21. Murray led LCU with four kills in the set.
 
SET 3 | FLC 25, LCU 20
The third set began with a balanced exchange of points, marked by a kill from Lily Bickley and a subsequent response from Alina Nunez to tie it at 1-1. Lubbock Christian saw a brief surge with three consecutive points, including kills from Madyson Eberly and Payton Murray, bringing the score to 4-2. However, the Skyhawks responded with a strong sequence, including a service ace by Addie Garn, pushing them ahead 6-5. Fort Lewis gained momentum with a series of plays, notably Ella Butler's kill at 16-15, followed by a 4-0 run to establish a 22-20 lead. Despite Lubbock Christian's efforts, led by Payton Murray's consistent kills, the Skyhawks maintained the upper hand, closing the set with a 25-20 victory after an LCU attack error. Murray had another solid frame, leading LCU with five kills in the set.
 
SET 4 | FLC 25, LCU 23
The Lady Chaps opened with a brief lead, scoring two consecutive points with Lily Bickley's kill and a block by Jade Workman and Bickley. However, the Skyhawks countered with a five-point streak, capitalizing on Lubbock Christian's errors to take a 5-2 advantage. Despite a series of well-distributed kills from Emilee Sikora and Jade Workman, Lubbock Christian faced a resilient Fort Lewis offense led by Arianna Reyna's playmaking, which contributed to multiple scoring runs. In a tense finish, the Lady Chaps narrowed the gap to 24-23 with back-to-back kills by Jade Workman but ultimately fell to Fort Lewis as Alina Nunez clinched the final point, ending the set 25-23 in favor of the visitors. Sikora had her biggest offense performance in a set, posting six kills in the set.
 
SET 5 | FLC 15, LCU 13
The fifth set was a tightly contested affair, with the Skyhawks eventually edging out a 15-13 victory. The set began with an early kill by Alina Nunez for Fort Lewis, which was quickly countered by a kill from Lily Bickley for the Lady Chaps. A service ace by Emilee Sikora briefly put Lubbock Christian ahead, but Fort Lewis responded with a 4-0 run, featuring two kills by Ella Butler and a kill by Jordan DeJesus, to take a 7-4 lead. The Lady Chaps fought back to tie the score at 11-11 with a kill from Emilee Sikora and a block by Payton Murray, but Fort Lewis regained control with key plays from Alina Nunez, including a decisive kill at 14-13. A service ace from Chloe Ruhl sealed the set and the match for the Skyhawk. Bickley and Sikora each co-led LCU with three kills in the decisive frame.

What's Next
LCU has two games remaining in the MCM Elegante Chap Classic, which will end a span of 10 games over nine days. Saturday, LCU faces Eastern New Mexico in a non-conference match at 9 a.m. and will follow with a 2 p.m. match against CSU Pueblo.