Midwestern State vs. Lubbock Christian
Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 | 6 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center | Lubbock, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (5-10); Lubbock Christian (8-1)
Live Video: LCUChaps.com 
Live Stats: LCUChaps.com  
 
Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 | 2 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (5-10, 1-5); Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-4, 3-3)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State travels to face Lubbock Christian Friday night at Rip Griffin Center before returning home to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference tilt Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
SCOUTING THE CHAPS
- Lubbock Christian rides a three-match winning streak into weekend play and is coming off of a five-set win over Texas-Permian Basin Saturday in Odessa.
- As a provisional member of the Heartland Conference, the Chaps have rolled off a 6-1 league mark with the lone loss coming in four sets to league leading Arkansas-Fort Smith.
- Junior right-side hitter Maddie Johnson puts down a Heartland Conference best 3.52 kills per set to lead a versatile LCU attack receiving support from freshman outside hitter Channing Castleberry (2.73 kps), junior middle blocker Amy Edwards (2.50 kps), sophomore middle blocker Areil Froeschl (2.26 kps) and senior outside hitter Abby White (2.06 kps).
- Senior setter Erin Fisher tops the Heartland Conference with 11.09 assists per set directing the Chaps to an impressive .220 team attack percentage.
- Edwards gives LCU a third Heartland category leader at 1.36 blocks per set as the Chaps boast a team 2.03 blocks per set average.
- Senior defensive specialist Christa Daniel leads back row performers with 5.86 digs per set.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Lubbock Christian for the 26th time on the court Friday night in Lubbock.
- The Mustangs own a 14-11 edge in the series, but are 4-6 all time against the Chaps in Lubbock.
- MSU snapped a five-match losing streak against LCU by claiming its first win over the Chaps since 1995 by taking a 3-1 decision last season in the Heartland/LSC Crossover at Rip Griffin Center.
 
SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS
- Texas A&M-Kingsville rides a three-match winning streak into this weekend's road swing to Cameron and Midwestern State.
- The Javelinas have been strong on their home court at Steinke Center posting a 6-1 mark, but are 1-3 in true road contests this season.
- TAMUK swept last weekend's LSC double dip taking home wins over Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's.
- The Javelinas are getting it done at the net ranking eighth in NCAA Division II in team blocks per set (2.46) and are 10th in overall blocks (123.0) led by senior middle blockers Ashley Tipps (1.06 bps) and Stephanie Johns (1.02 bps).
- Texas A&M-Kingsville also boasts the No. 2 attack in the LSC ranking 19th nationally with a .257 team hitting percentage.
- Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Bukowski puts down 3.02 kills per set, but receives plenty of support from senior outside hitter Kelsey Washington (2.78 kps), freshman outside hitter Krystal Faison (2.46 kps) and Johns (2.18 kps).
- Freshman setter Casey Klobedans ranks third in the LSC with 9.59 assists per set and is fourth in the league averaging 0.37 service aces per set.
- Freshman defensive specialist Brett Zaccardo leads back row performers with 4.68 digs per set.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville meet for the 26th time on the floor Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- TAMUK leads the series by a narrow 14-11 margin, but the Mustangs have won six of the nine matches between the teams played in Wichita Falls.
- MSU swept the season series in 2013 and has won seven of the last 10 matchups between the programs dating back to the 2007 season.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State dropped its fifth consecutive road match Tuesday night at Northwestern Oklahoma State and has dropped nine of its last 10.
- The Mustangs have posted a 4-5 mark on their home floor this season on the strength of winning three of four in the season opening MSU/Hampton Inn-vitational.
- The Mustangs have extended seven matches to a fifth set this season and have a 3-4 mark to show for it. The seven five-set matches are the most in the Lone Star Conference and are two more than any other team in the league.
- MSU ranks second in NCAA Division II in total team attacks (2,335) and is fifth in total team digs with 1,020.
- Senior libero Casey Fletcher (Eddy, Texas / Moody HS) ranks 14th in the nation and tops the Lone Star Conference with 5.80 digs per set.
- Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Garfield (Wichita Falls, Texas / Holliday HS) ranks 23rd nationally with 56.0 total blocks and is 113th in blocks per set with 0.95.
- Junior outside hitter Nicole Marzik (Prosper, Texas / Prosper HS (Fairfield)) is 17th in NCAA Division II with 561 total attacks.
 
MUSTANGS UNDER VENERA FLORES-STAFFORD
- Venera Flores-Stafford is in her 11th season at the helm at MSU posting a 175-161 record (.521).
- The Mustangs are 69-79 (.466) in Lone Star Conference play during the Flores-Stafford era.
 
UP NEXT
- Midwestern State enjoys the comforts of its home floor playing host to Eastern New Mexico on Friday before welcoming West Texas A&M on Saturday.