PITTSBURG, Kan. (September 6, 2025) – Lubbock Christian University closed its stay at the Gorilla Classic with a win and a hard-fought near-upset, sweeping Southern Arkansas 3-0 before pushing unbeaten Missouri Western to five sets (3-2 loss) Saturday inside John Lance Arena. The Lady Chaps left Kansas with a 2–2 mark, showing both efficiency and grit in their season-opening weekend.
 
GAME 1 – vs. SAU
Lubbock Christian rolled to a sweep Saturday morning, defeating Southern Arkansas 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, as LCU dominated the match with a .263 hitting percentage, compared to the Muleriders' .142. Notably, the Chaps' defense recorded 59 digs, stifling Southern Ark.'s offensive efforts and contributing to the decisive victory.
 
The win pushed LCU to 2-1 overall (0-0 Lone Star Conference) on the young season. Emilee Sikora led the Chaparrals with a team-high 12 kills and six digs, while Payton Murray added 11 kills and two blocks. Bryleigh Schweer also reached double figures with 10 kills on an efficient .500 hitting percentage. Setter Camdyn Sears dished out 32 assists to guide an attack that hit .263 for the match, while Abby Dominguez anchored the defense with 12 digs.
 
Southern Arkansas dropped to 0-3 (0-0 GAC) despite 11 kills at a .346 clip from Claire Johnson. Nasiya Graham and Brinklee Dauenhauer chipped in eight kills each, while libero Sadie Kabisch collected a team-high 19 digs.
 
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian hit .263 as a team with three players in double-digit kills.

» For the trio of Chaps individuals that posted at least 10 kills, freshman Emilee Sikora notched her first career double-figure performance in kills with 12 kills, while seniors Bryleigh Schweer (10 kills) registered her 10th game of double-figure kills and Payton Murray recorded her 29th game of at least 10 kills.

» Sikora recorded a match-high 13.0 points (12 kills, one ace).

» Schweer paced LCU with a .500 hitting percentage (10 kills, 1 error, 18 swings).

» SAU committed 19 attack errors compared to LCU's 14.

» The Chaps now lead the all-time series 3-2, as the win was the Lady Chaps' first win over the Muleriders since Sept. 24, 1994.
 
How It Happened
SET 1 | LCU 25, SAU 16
The Chaps used a blistering 9-0 run midway through the frame, sparked by kills from Murray, Bickley, and Schweer, to turn a 5–5 tie into a commanding 14–5 advantage. Murray finished the set with four kills, and LCU outhit SAU .308 to .073 to take the opener.
 
SET 2 | LCU 25, SAU 21
The second set featured nine ties and five lead changes. Sikora delivered timely kills and an ace as LCU pulled away late after a 21–20 lead. Murray sealed the set with a kill, giving the Chaps a 2–0 match lead despite Southern Arkansas tightening its attack efficiency to .222.
 
SET 3 | LCU 25, SAU 20
LCU jumped ahead 5–1 behind Sikora and Schweer and never trailed the rest of the way. A late push by the Muleriders cut it to 20–18, but Sears distributed well to both pins, and Schweer closed the door with her 10th kill of the match. LCU tallied 18 kills in the set, its most of the match.
 
GAME 2 – vs. MWSU
In a five-set thriller, LCU pushed unbeaten Missouri Western to the limit before falling 3–2 (25–20, 21–25, 26–24, 20–25, 15–11) in non-conference action.
 
The Lady Chaps (2–2, 0–0 Lone Star Conference) leaned on strong defensive play and a balanced offensive effort, highlighted by double-figure outings from Emilee Sikora and Jade Workman.
 
Sikora paced LCU with a double-double (14 kills and 12 digs), while Workman chipped in 12 kills and three blocks. Bryleigh Schweer added 10 kills and three blocks, and setter Camdyn Sears dished out 47 assists with 20 digs to complete another double-double. Defensively, libero Abby Dominguez was spectacular, recording a match-high 38 digs.
 
Missouri Western (4–0, 0–0 MIAA) stayed perfect behind Trista Marx's 16 kills and Emma Salker's 13-kill, 8-block performance (had 8 digs as well). Taylor Russell also finished in double figures with 11 kills, and libero Anna Weberg anchored the Griffons with 32 digs.
 
Game Notes
» The match was LCU's first of the season decided in five sets. LCU was 4-4 last season in five-set decisions.
 
» LCU and MoWest were meeting for the first time since Sept. 3, 1988, which ironically was played in Magnolia, Ark. (the home location of Southern Arkansas, who LCU played in the prior match). With the win, the Griffons improved to 2-0 all-time against LCU.
 
» LCU moved to 2-1 on the season in neutral site contests.
 
» The Lady Chaps produced 107 digs, which is the most since they posted 107 on Mar. 10, 2021 (Spring 2021 Covid season pushed from fall 2020) against UT Permian Basin. The tally tied for the 11th most by LCU since rally scoring started (in their program history).
 
» Abby Benitez produced 38 digs, which is a career high and the highest dig tally by a Lady Chaps member since Kelsie French had 40 on Nov. 9, 2018 against St. Edward's. Dominguez's total is the seventh highest tally since rally scoring started in their program's history.
 
» LCU had 231 total attempts (attack attempts), which is the third-highest total by the Lady Chaps since rally scoring started. It is their highest total since 237 at Newman (also in Kansas) on Oct. 16, 2014.
 
» Freshman Emilee Sikora had an outstanding performance, as she produced her first double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Additionally, in the match, she avoided a reception error on 31 serves received. In the combined four matches (season totals), Sikora has one reception error on 81 opportunities.
 
» Another freshman, Camdyn Sears, also had a double-double, posting 47 assists and 20 digs. She has double-doubles in three consecutive games.
 
» The contest was LCU's first of the season against a team either nationally ranked by the AVCA or receiving votes. LCU has dropped their last eight consecutive games played against a team ranked or receiving national votes.
 
» Lubbock Christian had three players in double figures in kills (Sikora 14, Workman 12, Schweer 10).

How It Happened
SET 1 | Missouri Western 25, LCU 20
Missouri Western used a pair of extended scoring runs to fend off Lubbock Christian in the opening set, pulling away late for a 25-20 victory in the first frame. LCU matched the Griffons point-for-point through the early exchanges, trading kills from Emilee Sikora and Lily Bickley to keep the set tied 6-6. Missouri Western then capitalized on a series of Lady Chap errors during a 7-1 surge, highlighted by Trista Marx and Taylor Russell, to build a 13-9 advantage. The Lady Chaps responded with energy out of a timeout, stringing together kills from Jade Workman and Bryleigh Schweer to cut the deficit to 16-15. But the Griffons regained momentum behind Emma Salker's back-to-back kills and a block assist with Brooklyn Gormley, stretching their lead to 20-15. LCU rallied again with a service ace from Ramsey Clark and a late kill from Camryn Blair to narrow the gap to 24-20. Missouri Western, however, sealed the set on a kill from Gormley to take the opener.
 
SET 2 | LCU 25, Missouri Western 21
Lubbock Christian came out strong in the second set, stringing together an early 5-3 lead on the strength of Schweer, who put down two kills in the stretch. The Lady Chaps extended their advantage to 11-8 after consecutive Missouri Western errors and later pushed it to 17-12 following a kill from Blair and a pair of key blocks at the net. The Griffons, however, responded with timely swings from Salker and Marx, along with a service ace from Salker, cutting the deficit to 18-16. LCU pushed back behind Bickley and Sikora, who combined for three late kills to give the Lady Chaps a 23-17 cushion. Missouri Western refused to fold, rallying for four straight points behind Salker and Russell to pull within 24-21. But LCU steadied itself and sealed the set at 25-21 on a Griffon attack error, evening the match at a set apiece. Sikora, Workman and Schweer each had three kills for LCU in the frame.
 
SET 3 | Missouri Western 26, LCU 24
The third set was a back-and-forth battle that featured major momentum swings. Missouri Western surged to a 13-4 lead behind an aggressive serving run from Lia Graham, which included an ace and several forced errors. LCU rallied midway through, sparked by kills from Payton Murray and Schweer, trimming the deficit to 20-19. After a timeout, Camdyn Sears tied the score at 20-20 with a kill, and Sikora later added back-to-back points to keep the Lady Chaps alive trailing 24-23. LCU forced extra points with a service ace from Bickley, but the Griffons closed it out 26-24 on a kill from Russell. Murray paced LCU in the frame with four kills, while Sikora added three.
 
SET 4 | LCU 25, Missouri Western 20
Lubbock Christian regained momentum in the fourth set with its most balanced play of the match. The Lady Chaps held an early 7-6 edge before Missouri Western rallied to take a 12-11 lead. From there, LCU responded with a 4-1 spurt highlighted by kills from Schweer and Bickley, seizing back control at 15-13. The Chaps' block continued to frustrate the Griffons, with Workman and Bickley combining for key points at the net. LCU extended the margin to 22-17 after a Workman kill and closed the frame 25-20 on another swing from Workman, who finished with three kills in the set. Schweer (2) and Sikora (3) combined for five kills, while the defense forced multiple Griffon errors to even the match at two sets each.
 
SET 5 | Missouri Western 15, LCU 11
The deciding set started in LCU's favor, with the Lady Chaps taking a 2-0 lead on a Sears service ace and a Sikora kill. After a Griffon point, Bickley added another kill for a 3-1 cushion. Missouri Western quickly turned the tide behind Salker and Marx, stringing together a 6-1 run to take control at 8-6. LCU kept within striking distance after a Schweer kill made it 12-10, but the Griffons' block proved decisive down the stretch. Missouri Western scored the final three points to secure a 15-11 win and the match. Sikora (3) and Workman (2) combined for five kills in the final set.

What's Next
LCU makes a stop closer to home Tuesday, visiting former Sooner Athletic Conference rival Wayland Baptist for a 7 p.m. matchup inside Hutcherson Center in Plainview, Texas. The contest also serves as the home opener for the Pioneers (2-3), who have opened the season on the road in nearly the same region as the Lady Chaps.