By james art 
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (November 1, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University won the first set, but St. Mary’s rallied to take the next three, defeating the Lady Chaparrals in four sets (25-16, 26-28, 18-25, 18-25 ) in the Lone Star Conference game Friday at Bill Greehey Arena.
The loss dropped Lubbock Christian’s record to 11-10 overall and 7-4 in LSC play as they dropped two straight road games. St. Mary’s is closing in on LCU in the LSC standings as the 14-8 Rattlers are now 6-5 in LSC play.
The Lady Chaps offense was slowed down Kiana Falahawho finished with 13 kills on the day. Lily Bickley add 11 and Peyton Murray chipped in with 10 as part of Lubbock Christian’s balanced attack. Defensively, three LCU players recorded double figures in scoring, with Lady Rae Gwynn leads with 15, followed by To Caiton Gennenbacher 11 and To Abby Benitez 10. Briley Schweer led LCU with four units (one solo).
Game notes
» Lubbock Christian had three players in double figures in kills, led by Kiana Falahawho leads LCU in kills for the first time since Sept. 29 at Texas Woman’s. She missed six games the entire span. Peyton Murraywho had 10 kills, reached double figures for the ninth time in a 10-game span.
» Lubbock Christian had three players in double figures in digs and held a 62-59 edge as a team. They fall to 9-5 in division-leading games.
» Lubbock Christian’s forwards were aided by a team-high 47 assists from Caiton Genenbacher. She added 11 digs for her 11th double-double for the season and 35th of her career.
» LCU fell to 3-7 in road games on the season. They have lost their last two away games.
» The win improved StMU to 17-12 against LCU all-time. LCU falls to 5-4 all-time vs. StMU in San Antonio.
» The Rattlers got 37 total kills from Landri Withers (19) and Alicia Virthe (18).
How it happened
SET 1 | The Lady Chaps took control of the first set at 3-2 and never looked back to win 25-16. Lubbock Christian opened up its largest lead, nine points, to close out the set. They hit .444 in the set, Murray leading LCU with four kills.
SET 2 | Lubbock Christian then fell in the second set 28-26, tying the match at one set each. The Lady Chaps fell in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured eight lead changes and was tied 20 times. Neither team led by more than three points on the road. LCU had three set point serves that came up short as the Rattlers, after a challenge review going in their favor, closed out the set on a 3-0 run to win the set 28-26.
SET 3 | Lubbock Christian fell again in the third set to make it a 2-1 deficit. The Lady Chaps fell in a tough set 25-18. Lubbock Christian trailed by as many as seven points before Saint Mary’s grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that was tied four times before the Rattlers took the win in the second half of the stanza.
SET 4 | Lubbock Christian dropped the fourth set and the match, losing 25-18. The Lady Chaps trailed by as many as seven points until Saint Mary’s grabbed the advantage for good at 4-3, and Lubbock Christian was unable to recover in a set that was tied three times before the Rattlers took an early 7-0 run to sit in the driver’s seat. Kiana Falaha led LCU with five kills in the set.
WHAT’S NEXT
LCU plays its final road game of the regular season on Saturday at 1:00 pm from Austin, Texas, facing St. Edwards.