Box Score It's been a while since the Lancaster Bible women's volleyball team defeated Baptist Bible. How long?

Bill Clinton was President of the United States, Seinfeld was still airing new episodes and many of the current LBC volleyball players were getting dropped off at pre-school every morning.

After 15 straight years of losses, the Chargers finally beat the Defenders on Wednesday night at Horst Athletic Center, defeating Baptist Bible, 3-0. LBC won, 25-10, 25-21, 25-23 and was led by senior Lauren Heliger who had a match-high 12 kills and 16 digs. 

LBC (2-11) stormed out of the gate and crushed BBC (7-5), 25-10 in the opening set. The Chargers had nine kills and were aided by 10 Defenders' errors. Two thunderous kills by Lauren Daniels to open the match set the tone for the evening.

"We were prepared for this match," Chargers' Head Coach Lauren Bewley said. " Our previous experience and tough matches earlier this season are starting to help us."

BBC fought back in the second set as the teams traded points back and forth for much of the set. LBC was finally able to string a few points together late in the set and held on for a 25-21 victory.

"I thought our captains [Heliger and Naomi Martin] stepped up tonight, as well as Hannah Metzler," Bewley said. "All of the ladies played very hard."

LBC's trouble with putting away teams looked to possibly rearing its ugly head again as the Defenders opened the third set with an 8-1 run. After a Chargers' timeout, LBC used back-to-back kills and several BBC errors to jump right back into the set. LBC would eventually tie the set at 11-11, before BBC took back the lead with four straight points. 

The teams again traded points before BBC took a 23-20 lead. With their backs to the wall, the Chargers turned to Katie Coomber whose serves put the Defenders on their heels and helped LBC tie the match at 23-23. LBC took the next point as well and when BBC committed its 12th error of the set, the Chargers finally had their victory.

"Things we have been working on in practice are starting to work in matches," Bewley said. "Tonight is a big step, but we have to keep working hard."

Wednesday's NCCAA East Region match kicked off an important week for the Chargers who will play all three NCCAA East Region opponents and begin North Eastern Athletic Conference [NEAC] play. LBC takes on Penn St. Berks on Thursday, before traveling to Cobleskill, N.Y. this weekend for the first NEAC Crossover Weekend. The Chargers will face Cazenovia, SUNY Cobleskill and Keuka while in New York.

"Tonight was a great way to start a stretch of matches that will determine our postseason fate," Bewley said. 

Should the Chargers defeat Cairn and Valley Forge Christian on Tuesday night in Phoenixville, Pa., they would host the NCCAA East Region Playoffs on Friday, October 26.

LBC opens NEAC play Thursday night at Penn St. Berks. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.