ONU Can't Keep Up With The Joneses

Bailey Jones Registered 13 Kills For LCU

PLAINVIEW, Texas (August 27, 2010) – For the third consecutive season, Lubbock Christian University opened the volleyball season with a victory, but Friday afternoon’s match at the Coca Cola Classic hosted by Wayland Baptist University was special, as the No.22 Lady Chaparrals defeated No.12 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-16).

Bailey Jones led the way for the Lady Chaps with a match-high 13 kills.  Six of the kills came in the opening set, with four tallied during a 13-3 run which turned an 11-9 deficit into a 22-14 lead.  Tori Velasquez put up seven serves during the rally.  The Lady Chaps led as much as 24-16 before Jones’ final kill of the set halted a 4-0 run and clinched the opening set 25-20.

Returning NAIA All-American Elissa Loynes, who finished with nine kills, had a pair to open the second set and jumpstart the Lady Chaps to a 7-1 lead. A 7-2 Tigers run inched ONU closer, but the Lady Chaps never trailed in the 25-20 set win.

Another set-opening kill by Loynes got the Lady Chaps off to a quick start in the final set.  LCU led 5-2 to start the set, but ONU responded to tie the set at 6-6.  The Lady Chaps pulled away late in the set, scoring 15 of the set’s 22 final points for a match-clinching 25-16 set victory.  Jones had five kills in the third set, with four coming within the Lady Chaps final 13 points tallied.

The Lady Chaps (1-0) produced 41 kills with 31 assisted by Jordan Goings. LCU had four players in double-figures in digs, with Nikki Ralston leading the way with a match-high 16.  Goings completed the double-double with 11 digs to compliment her 31 assists.  LCU held ONU (0-2) to a .034 attack percentage and forced them into 24 attack errors. 

The Lady Chaps are now 5-2 in season openers under head coach Jennifer Lawrence and it is their first win over a ranked opponent in a season opener.  The win was also the program’s first over Olivet Nazarene.  The Lady Chaps 2001 season came to an end at the NAIA National Championship with a loss to ONU in the only other meeting between the two programs.  LCU’s play in the Coca Cola Classic continues Saturday with a 9 a.m. match against York College (Neb.).