Jones Calms Storm

LUBBOCK, Texas (November 4, 2011) - Bailey Jones posted a career-best 21 kills and Lubbock Christian University kept their hopes of finishing second in the Sooner Athletic Conference alive Friday night inside Rip Griffin Center with a thrilling 3-1 victory (25-20, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21).

Jones snapped her previous high of 18 kills (Oct. 20, 2009 vs. West Texas A&M) and it was the highest individual kill total for a Lady Chaps member since Elissa Loynes had 23 kills in a five-set match against Wayland Baptist at the 2010 SAC Tournament (Nov. 12, 2010). The junior opposite-side hitter had 14 kills over the final two sets, with eight coming in the final set.  She helped LCU out-kill SNU 61-47 in the contest.  Jordan Goings produced an impressive double-double for LCU with 47 assists and 14 digs.  She was three kills shy of a triple-double. Both setters had double-doubles in the match, as Kaylee Piatt of SNU had 36 assists and 16 digs.  Brittany Johnson had 11 kills and five blocks for LCU.  LCU had an 86-74 advantage in digs, with Tori Velasquez collecting a career high 21 digs.  Jamie Hope (11), Ellen Martin (10) and Taylor Jacobs (10) each had double figures in kills for SNU.

The match was tightly played with the score tied on 20 occasions and 11 lead changes.  The fourth set featured the score knotted up 10 times and seven lead changes.  LCU improved to 21-7 overall and 9-4 in the SAC.  SNU is 28-6 overall and they dropped to 10-3 in the SAC.  Here is a breakdown of scenarios leading into the Lady Chaps contest Saturday against Oklahoma City University:

If LCU defeats OCU and Wayland Baptist defeats SNU 3-0, then LCU will finish second place in the SAC.

If LCU defeats OCU and Wayland Baptist defeats SNU 3-1 or 3-2, then LCU will finish in third place in the SAC.

If LCU falls to OCU or SNU defeats WBU, then LCU will finish in third place in the SAC.

The match between LCU and OCU beings at 1 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center and is the final regular season contest of the season.  The SAC Tournament will be hosted by Oklahoma Baptist University, who finished the season with a perfect 14-0 conference mark.