FORT SMITH– UAFS will end its four-match home stand and the first round of Heartland Conference play on Thursday when the Lady Lions volleyball team hosts the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps at 6 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lady Lions (14-8, 4-1) are tied for second place in the conference with the St. Mary’s Rattlers (9-10, 3-1), who beat UAFS in four sets on Saturday at the Stubblefield Center. Lubbock Christian (14-6, 5-0) leads the seven-team conference by one match.
It will be the 13th meeting in the all-time series between UAFS and Lubbock Christian, and UAFS leads the series 11-1. Live statistics and live stream will be available.
UAFS is coming off a convincing three-set win against last-place Newman (1-19, 0-5) on Tuesday night at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lady Lions are hitting at a 0.202 clip. Senior middle hitter Debra Rogers, who was this week’s Conference Offensive Player of the Week, leads the team in kills (265), kills per set (3.31) and hitting percentage (0.366). Freshman setter Taylor Stoops, who was this week’s Conference Setter of the Week, leads the team in assists (635) and assists per set (8.36), and sophomore setter/right-side hitter Erin Black leads the team in aces (25) and aces per set (0.32).
UAFS is holding opponents to a 0.150 hitting percentage. Rogers leads the team in blocks (54) and blocks per set (0.88), and freshman libero Pilar Onstad leads the team in digs (349) and digs per set (4.47).
Lubbock Christian has won 10 matches in a row and is coming off a five-set, nonconference win against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Tuesday night at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas.
The Lady Chaps are hitting at a 0.179 clip. Senior outside hitter Lauren Zoller leads the team in kills (230) and kills per set (3.43). Freshman setter Bradi Marshall leads the team in assists (642) and assists per set (10.52), and sophomore defensive specialist Maddie DeGuire leads the team in aces (32) and aces per set (0.48).
Lubbock Christian is holding opponents to a 0.160 hitting percentage. Sophomore middle hitter Jaiden Kennedy leads the team in blocks (58) and blocks per set (0.85), and senior libero Kelsie French leads the team in digs (413) and digs per set (6.07).
