ODESSA, Texas --- A slow start after a long ride cost the Wayland Baptist volleyball team a chance to extend its win streak to three. The Pioneers dropped their final nonconference contest of the season, 3-1, at the University of Texas-Permian Basin's Falcon Dome on Tuesday evening.
"We didn't have our legs and were a half-step slow for the first couple of sets," said WBU coach Jim Giacomazzi. "It's hard to drive three or four hours and then play, but this was a good test because we're going to do it again on Friday."
The Pioneers scored just 12 points in the first set. Their sideout percentage was a lowly 36 percent, and they put down only seven kills with seven errors on 30 swings.
Things went a little better in the second, a 25-17 WBU loss. The sideout percentage was up to 45 percent and Giacomazzi's squad recorded two more kills and two less errors.
UTPB emptied its bench in the third set and the Pioneers took advantage with a 25-17 decision. Giacomazzi said his team did a good job in the fourth set, which he described as "nip and tuck the whole way. " The Lady Falcons eventually took the set, 25-21, after nine ties and three lead changes.
"We finally starting getting our legs back in that fourth set and I saw some good things in that one. Overall, we just didn't play well enough to win, but I think we'll be ready for the weekend."
After facing conference cellar-dweller St. Gregory's on Friday evening, the Pioneers will take on #21 Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday afternoon. OBU is currently undefeated in the SAC with a 10-0 mark and is 24-10 overall. Eight of those losses were to teams currently ranked in the NAIA Top 25, including three to #1 Texas-Brownsville.
Kate Trejos led the Wayland women with 18 kills against UTPB. Kimberli Harger added 12 kills and 11 digs, and Tatiana Gonzalez put down ten kills and posted a team-high 15 digs.
Natasha Giacomazzi was credited with 38 assists and 11 digs, and Alissa Mitchell Hodgson and Jaharys Archilla also picked up 11 digs each for WBU, which now has a 17-12 overall record.
