PITTSBURG, Kan. (September 5, 2025) – Lubbock Christian University opened its 2025 season with a split at the Gorilla Classic, rebounding from a 3–0 loss to host Pittsburg State by sweeping Truman State in straight sets Friday inside John Lance Arena.
 
GAME 1 – vs. PSU
LCU dropped its season opener Saturday, falling in straight sets to Pittsburg State, 25-17, 25-22, 25-18.
 
The Lady Chaps (0-1, 0-0 Lone Star Conference) were paced by outside hitter Lily Bickley, who led with nine kills and added two blocks, while Payton Murray chipped in seven kills and five digs. Setter Camdyn Sears dished out a team-high 13 assists, and libero Abby Dominguez anchored the defense with 12 digs and two service aces.
 
Pittsburg State (2-0, 0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate) featured a balanced attack led by Anna Dean's 11 kills on .526 hitting, while also tallying eight blocks. Vix Vilott added 10 kills and four service aces, and Maliyah Johnson contributed nine kills. Setter Jesa Wallace finished with 19 assists, and libero Josie McCroskey picked up 15 digs.
 
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian was led by Bickley's nine kills, followed by Murray with seven.

» Dominguez recorded a team-best 12 digs and served two aces.

» Pittsburg State had three players with at least nine kills (Dean, Vilott, Johnson). Dean posted a match-high 17 points, pairing 11 kills with eight total blocks.

» LCU was limited to a .047 hitting percentage, while Pittsburg State hit .208.
 
» LCU falls to 30-17 all-time in season openers, ending a sequence of two consecutive wins in season openers. It was LCU's fourth "road game" to open a season since transitioning from NAIA to NCAA in 2013 (2014, 2022, 2023, 2025).
 
» The match was LCU's first at Pitt State and marked the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams, with the all-time series now tied at 2-2.
 
»  The win marked the first coaching victory (at PSU and at a four-year college) for first-year head coach Megan Besecker, who arrived at PSU from Barton Community College.
 
»  Each team produced 14 points from the serving line, as the Lady Chaps had four aces and received 10 points from errant PSU serves, while PSU had eight aces and received six points from LCU serving errors.
 
» PSU had 12.0 total blocks and a 12.0 to 3.5 advantage over LCU , with Dean posting 8 blocks (two solo).
 
» Transfer Kyla Farnan entered the match in the third set for her LCU debut, along with true freshmen Sears and Sikora, who each started to make their LCU debut. Sears had 10 assists in the opening set and finished with 13, while Sikora had two kills and five digs.
 
»  LCU's Madyson Eberly, who missed all of last season with an injury, returned to the floor in the second set and finished with a kill and a block.
 
How It Happened
SET 1 | Pittsburg State 25, LCU 17
The Gorillas used an early 7-0 run behind the serving of Josie McCroskey to seize control after a 3-3 tie. Anna Dean proved dominant at the net, collecting multiple kills and blocks as Pittsburg State pulled ahead 20-12. Bickley and Murray combined for late kills to trim the margin, but the Lady Chaps couldn't recover from the early deficit.
 
SET 2 | Pittsburg State 25, LCU 22
LCU came out strong, taking a 15-13 lead on a block by Bryleigh Schweer and Murray. The Lady Chaps extended the rally with back-to-back kills from Bickley and Schweer, then an ace from Dominguez gave them a 21-20 edge. However, Pittsburg State closed with a 5-1 run, keyed by kills from Dean and Johnson, to escape with the set.
 
SET 3 | Pittsburg State 25, LCU 18
The third set began tightly, with the Lady Chaps pulling ahead 12-8 after a block and kill from Bickley. But Vilott swung the momentum with consecutive service aces, and the Gorillas rattled off seven straight points to reclaim the lead. Dean and Vilott combined for five kills in the closing stretch as Pittsburg State sealed the sweep.
 
GAME 2 – vs. TSU
LCU dominated from start to finish, sweeping Truman State 3-0 (25-23, 25-11, 25-22) for their first win of the season.
 
The victory improved Lubbock Christian's record to 1-1 overall, while Truman State fell to 1-1 on the season. Both teams entered the match looking to build momentum early in the 2025 season.
 
Lily Bickley led the Lady Chaps' offensive charge with an outstanding performance, recording 13 kills on a .455 attack percentage while adding two serving aces. Emilee Sikora provided excellent support with nine kills at a .471 clip, and Jade Workman contributed nine kills on an impressive .615 attack percentage. Camdyn Sears orchestrated the offense with 8 assists while also contributing offensively. Payton Murray added 31 total attempts, showcasing the team's depth and versatility in their attack.
 
Truman State was paced by Jessie Julius, who tallied nine kills. Makayla Way provided a bright spot for the Bulldogs with seven kills on a .545 attack percentage, but the team's overall .175 hitting percentage proved to be a decisive factor in the match.
 
Game Notes
» The Lady Chaps featured a balanced offensive attack led by Bickley's 13 kills, followed by Sikora's 9 kills and Workman's efficient 8 kills without an error. Lubbock Christian posted a .351 team attack percentage compared to Truman State's .175, demonstrating superior offensive efficiency throughout the match. LCU's .351 team attack marked the third-highest by the Lady Chaps under Keith Giboney, who is in his fifth season with the Lady Chaps.
 
» LCU collected their first-ever win all-time over the Bulldogs, and the win moved LCU to 1-1 all-time against Truman, who the Chaps last faced in 2018 (in Salt Lake City, Utah).
 
» The win marked the Lady Chaps' first of the season (and first shutout win of the season) and in addition, they are 1-0 on the season in neutral site contests. Last season, LCU went 4-3 in neutral site contests and produced five shutout (3-0) wins.
 
» Libero Abby Dominguez anchored the defense with solid reception work, helping LCU maintain a .919 reception percentage.
 
» Freshman Camdyn Sears notched her first career double-double and LCU's first of the season, as she posted 39 assists and 10 digs.
 
» Sears' 39 assists helped LCU to 47 assists (as a team), which is the fourth most under head coach Keith Giboney (fifth season) in a three-set match.
 
How It Happened
SET 1 | LCU 25, Truman State 23
The opening set proved to be the most competitive of the evening, featuring 11 lead changes and 12 tie scores as both teams traded momentum throughout. Truman State jumped out to early advantages, leading 15-11 after kills from Julius and Shimon, forcing an LCU timeout. The Lady Chaps responded with determination, as Bickley and Sikora led a comeback that saw LCU tie the set at 16-16 after successful challenges and key defensive plays. The set remained tight with both teams exchanging points, but crucial kills from Bickley and strong play from Workman helped LCU close out the set 25-23. Bickley and Sikora co-led LCU with four kills each in the set. The Lady Chaps hit .333 as a team compared to Truman State's .267.
 
SET 2 | LCU 25, Truman State 11
Lubbock Christian seized complete control in the second set, as the Lady Chaps jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead behind kills from Workman and strong serving. After Truman State briefly cut the deficit to 3-1, LCU embarked on a devastating run (included an 11-4 scoring surge) that saw them build commanding leads throughout the set. Bickley was unstoppable during this stretch, recording multiple consecutive kills and a service ace that helped extend the lead to 19-7. The Lady Chaps' offensive efficiency reached its peak with a .538 attack percentage, led by Bickley's five kills on just seven attacks (.714 percentage) and Schweer's four kills. Truman State struggled mightily, managing only a .000 attack percentage and committing numerous errors. The 25-11 victory showcased LCU's ability to maintain pressure and execute at a high level when momentum shifted in their favor.
 
SET 3 | LCU 25, Truman State 23
The final set saw Truman State attempt to mount a comeback, but Lubbock Christian's composure proved decisive in closing out the match. The Bulldogs struck first and maintained early leads, but LCU gradually found their rhythm behind the continued strong play of their offensive leaders. Multiple momentum swings characterized the middle portion of the set, with both teams trading runs. However, the Lady Chaps' superior hitting efficiency (.256 vs .216) and key contributions from their balanced attack ultimately made the difference. Bickley continued her outstanding performance with four more kills, while Workman and Sikora provided crucial offensive support. Despite Truman State's best efforts, including solid play from Goad and Neece, LCU's ability to execute in pressure situations allowed them to pull away for the 25-22 victory and complete the sweep.

What's Next?
LCU remains in Pittsburg Saturday and will face Southern Arkansas at 9 a.m. and Missouri Western at 4:30 p.m. to complete their opening weekend of play.