LUBBOCK, Texas --- It was a disappointing start to the 2011 Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball season for the Wayland Baptist Pioneers. The WBU netters lost in three straight to their arch-rivals from Lubbock Christian University on Tuesday night, 25-10, 25-17-25-22.
The Pioneers turned in one of their poorest hitting performances since Jim Giacomazzi took over the reigns as head coach five years ago. They got down just 23 kills in 91 attempts and committed 19 hitting errors in the three-set match.
Hitting wasn't the only area in which Giacomazzi's squad suffered against the Lady Chaps, however. The Pioneers also committed a season-high eight reception errors and had a season-low 41 digs. No player reached the double-figure mark in either kills or digs.
After the match, Giacomazzi said that although the outcome was "extremely disappointing," he hoped that his team learned a few things.
"We went in with a game plan, and didn't execute it. That's all there was to it. I think now the girls know that we have to stick with the plan to be successful."
The lone Pioneer to have any success on the attack was middle hitter Ashley Duff. The freshman from San Antonio recorded five kills on her ten swings and had just one miscue. Senior Tatiana Gonzalez was the leader in digs with nine.
WBU, which is 7-4 on the season, travels to Ft. Worth this weekend to compete in the Hughes-Wesleyan Classic, hosted by Texas Wesleyan University. The Pioneers will open with Huston Tillotson University at 1 pm on Friday, and then will play host TWU at 7:00. Their final match of the weekend will be against the University of St. Thomas at 1 pm on Saturday.
