LUBBOCK, Texas (November 7, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's volleyball team suffered a road loss in Lone Star Conference play on Friday night, falling 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-18) against the top team in the conference standings, Lubbock Christian University.

In the first set, UTPB (9-15 overall, 7-7 LSC) led 1-0 on a kill by Ashlee Macias and then 4-3 after back-to-back kills by Macias and Makenna Grimes. However, LCU (22-5, 14-1) answered with an 11-1 run to open up a 14-5 lead and force the second Falcons' timeout of the set. During that big scoring run, after back-to-back attack errors on the Falcons to make it 6-4 deficit, UTPB's lone point during the run was a kill by Lauren Demuth to make it a one-point margin (6-5) before each of the next eight points went to LCU. Four of the first five points of the 8-0 stretch for the Lady Chaparrals came via a kill by Lily Bickley.

Four straight UTPB attack errors made it an 18-6 deficit as the Falcons hit just .025 percent (9 kills, 8 errors) in the opening set. LCU was as advertised, totaling 16 kills and just one attack error (.341 pct.).

UTPB tried to right the ship offensively in the second set, again leading early, this time at 3-0 after a kill by Amyah Collins and 4-1 after another kill by Demuth. Like it did in the first set, LCU tried to take control with a big run after the early lead by UTPB, going up 9-5 after an 8-1 run. However, this time UTPB was able to fight back and stay in the set.

UTPB closed the gap to just one point (9-8) after back-to-back service aces by Emma Gonzalez, and then again (13-12) after back-to-back kills by Demuth and Macias. UTPB then took a 15-14 lead after a 3-0 run starting with a kill by Macias, followed by an LCU attack error and ending with a kill by Demuth.

The two teams would trade the next five points until the 10th kill by the match by Bickley started a 4-0 stretch for the Lady Chaps to take a 20-17 lead. After the first kill by the match by Nickilah Whatley to stop the 4-0 run, back-to-back kills by the Lady Chaps made it 22-18 and forced a timeout by UTPB Head Coach CJ Allard.

Two of the first three points after the timeout went down as a kill by Macias, and then an attack error on LCU's Emilee Sikora made it 23-21. LCU challenged the play but was unsuccessful, but UTPB was unable to take advantage as a service error by Kierra Freeman gave the Lady Chaps set point. One more kill by Macias kept the set going for one more point before an attack error by Sydney Bradley made it a 2-0 set lead for LCU.

The two teams hit nearly evenly in the second set with UTPB at .209 percent (14 kills, 5 errors) on 43 attempts and LCU at .196 percent (14 kills, 5 errors) on 46 attempts.

UTPB scored the first point in all three sets, and then Demuth started the third set strong with a pair of kills to tie it at 2-2 and 3-3 before landing her 18th ace of the season to give UTPB a 4-3 lead. The eighth and final kill of the match by Demuth later on in the set made it an 11-10 deficit for UTPB, and then a dig by Freeman landed for a kill to keep it at a one-point margin down 13-12. However, each of the next five points went to LCU as back-to-back kills by Bickley were followed by back-to-back service aces by Ramsey Clark, the second of which came right after a UTPB timeout to make the score 18-12.

"Unfortunately, our season-long trend of not quite enough offense continued again tonight," said Coach Allard. "We executed a unique game plan fairly well, but defense only wins championships when accompanied by an efficient offense. We're a stubborn group though – this team isn't finished yet."

Demuth and Macias both finished with eight kills for UTPB. Macias also led the team with 17 digs, Freeman recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs, and Kyndall Torres chipped in with 12 digs as well.

LCU setter Camdyn Sears recorded 32 assists for the Lady Chaps and has over 1,000 assists for the season as a freshman. Sears, a native of Midland, Texas, is the reigning LSC Freshman of the Week and has now compiled seven LSC weekly honors — three Setter of the Week and four Freshman of the Week (one week consisting of achieving both) in her first season. She ranked among the top-3 nationally in total assists coming into the match while LCU ranked No. 1 in the nation in both total kills (1,393) and total assists (1,326).

Up next will be UTPB's final road match of the regular season as the 10th-place Falcons take on ninth-place Midwestern State University (15-9, 8-7), which fell 3-0 at home vs. Angelo State University on Friday. The Falcons and the Mustangs will square off starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 8.