Box Score LUBBOCK – The Wayland Baptist Pioneer volleyball team traveled to Lubbock on Friday morning to take on undefeated defending national champion University of Texas at Brownsville, the No. 1 team in the NAIA. The Scorpions won, but not without Wayland getting in a few good punches.
The match was played at Lubbock Christian University's Rip Griffin Center, a venue where the Pioneers played last week, which may have given a slight edge to Wayland coach
Jim Giacomazzi's team . . . at least at first.
The young WBU squad came out of the gates strong, and with the help of a 6-0 run in the middle of the set, the Pioneers defeated the Scorpions 25-19. However, it seemed that UTB worked off its long bus ride from the previous day and got warmed up because the Scorpions went on to win the next three sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18.
"I was very happy with the girls. They were not intimidated against a team that boasts a lot of experienced, taller plays who are well-coached. They were able to hang with them," Giacomazzi said.
The Scorpions' lineup features mostly players who are 6-foot or taller. All but two players are from Brazil or Serbia.
"We knew they were going to have some mistmatches, but we were able to win some of those battles," Giacomazzi said. "They have some horses in their stable that are just going to win the Kentucky Derby, so for a bunch of freshmen to come out here and play well against that kind of experience and talent, I think it says a lot."
After their slow start, UTB (10-0) put together impressive starts in each of the final three sets to distance themselves from the Pioneers (5-9). Wayland got in the hole 11-2, 8-1 and 11-4 in sets two, three and four, respectively, before feverishly fighting back to pull within reach of the Scorpions.
"Our frustration was with our serve receive," Giacomazzi said. "We were at 64 percent and hit over .400 (the first set), which was because we had great passing and one hitting error that first match. That's the best we've done all year. If we have that combination we can play with anybody."
The Pioneers rallied back from as many as eight and nine points and fended off an excellent jump serve from UTB's Danica Markovic, who finished with six aces.
Giacomazzi said the Pioneers' blockers, after working hard on reading setters during practice all week, did a decent job of "being in the right place at the right time.
"We were able to block both for points and just to slow them down. They just hit the ball so hard," the coach said.
Defensively, WBU kept pace with the Scorpions, recording 57 digs to their counterpart's 62, even outblocking their top-ranked opponent 14-13. Sophomore
Grecia Rivera led the Pioneers with 14 digs while freshmen
Chelsey Driskill and
Tania Gomez each recorded a solo block. Four Pioneers were credited with three assisted blocks apiece.
The UTB offense outshined the Pioneers by recording 56 kills to Wayland's 31. Rivera produced 10 kills and was Wayland's only player to reach double-digits in that category. Junior
Natasha Giacomazzi paced the Pioneers in assists by dishing out 25.
Giacomazzi said the match proved that his team "can play with pretty much anybody. We're getting better every time we touch the ball."
The youthful Pioneer team takes the court again at 11 a.m. Saturday in Hutcherson Center against John Brown University (16-4) for Wayland's second Sooner Athletic Conference match. Wayland dropped its SAC opener to Lubbock Christian in four at the Hutch on Tuesday, while John Brown fell to the Lady Chaps in the Griffin Center on Friday afternoon in three.
Giacomazzi said both Wayland and John Brown have beaten their lone common opponent, College of the Ozarks.
"It should be a good contest. They're a good, solid team, too, that's been playing very well. We want to catch up to them and beat them."
