The volleyball team captured Wayland’s first regular-season volleyball championship in 18 years, then hosted and won the SAC Tournament title for the first time since 2008. For the second straight season, the Pioneers hosted an opening-round match in the NAIA National Championships. But unlike last season when they advanced to the national semifinals, Wayland lost its opening match to Evangel (Mo.), to finish the season with a 23-10 record and a No. 25 ranking. The Pioneers were just 9-9 at one point before winning 14 straight matches (an exhibition loss to the Chinese national team didn’t count). The run featured three wins over rival Oklahoma Baptist to snap a 12-match skid dating back to 2009 end halted the Lady Bison’s 53-match SAC regular-season winning streak. Jim Giacomazzi, who marked his 300th career coaching victory during the season, was named SAC Coach of the Year, while Shahala Hawkins was the SAC Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year after leading the nation in average kills per set (5.48). She also set school records for kills in a match (33) and a season (641). Hawkins, Chelsey Driskill and Ashlyn Westerman were named to the All-SAC First Team, while freshman Morgan Seaton made the second team and Emily Welch the honorable mention squad. Of those, only Westerman won’t be back next season.
