Whatever ailed the Wayland Baptist volleyball team on the road last weekend seems fixed as the Pioneers swept a pair of Sooner Athletic Conference matches at Hutcherson Center. After defeating John Brown on Friday, WBU took care of Mid-America Christian on Saturday in three straight by scores of 25-11, 25-16, and 25-13.
"It was a good weekend and we righted some wrongs," said head coach Jim Giacomazzi. "Our serve receive was a lot better, defensively we were more aware and in better position, and our block was getting a lot more touches."
In addition, Giacomazzi is moving his two senior hitters, Kate Trejos and Tatiana Gonzalez, around in order to create both more opportunities for Gonzalez and to force the opposing blockers to move more.
That strategy paid big dividends as the two Pioneers combined to log 27 of the 37 Wayland kills against JBU and 33 of the 44 versus MACU.
"We've also added a new dimension to our attack up the middle that has helped offensively," added Giacomazzi.
The Wayland women had an attack percentage of .294 against Mid-America on Saturday, led by Trejos who hit .415. She posted 21 kills on 41 swings with just four errors.
Gonzalez recorded the lone double-double against the Lady Evangels with 12 kills and 11 digs. Kimberli Harger was credited with 10 digs, and Natasha Giacomazzi passed out 38 assists.
The two wins improved the Pioneer record to 17-11 on the season and 6-4 in conference play. They are two games ahead of John Brown in fourth place the SAC standings.
Next up for the Wayland netters are three matches on the road, beginning with a nonconference contest on Tuesday in Odessa against the University of Texas-Permian Basin. They return to SAC play on Friday and Saturday in Shawnee, Okla. against St. Gregory's and conference front-runner Oklahoma Baptist.
