OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wayland Baptist Pioneer volleyball team didn't waste any time picking up another Sooner Athletic Conference victory here Saturday afternoon, sweeping Oklahoma City University, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15.
"We played well," said coach Jim Giacomazzi, admitting he was "concerned" after OCU extended Lubbock Christian University to five sets on Friday night before falling. "We did a pretty good job."
The win improves the Pioneers' season record to 8-10 while upping their SAC mark to 3-1.
Against OCU (9-15, 1-2), Wayland was in control most of the way. The Pioneers broke open the first set by scoring five straight points midway through, then after OCU pulled to within 18-16, Wayland went for six consecutive points. The set ended on a kill by
Chelsey Driskill.
The Pioneers made a similar run in the second set, again tallying six points in a row for a 17-8 advantage. Wayland finished it out from there with Shahala Hawkins and Claire Jacobsma combining on a block for the game winner.
The third set was a tougher test, at least early when OCU jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Wayland trailed 9-3 when the Pioneers turned things around, scoring 13 of the next 15 points to take a 16-11 advantage. OCU won the next point, and it was then that Coach Giacomazzi received his second red card of the afternoon and was ejected, leaving graduate assistant coach Sarah Ma, a former player and assistant coach at OCU, at the helm.
After the Stars pulled to within 16-14, Wayland gave up only one more point the rest of the game.
Giacomazzi was pleased with the Pioneers' overall play.
"Our serve receive was a little bit better and a little bit more consistent, and (OCU) struggled on serve receive," he said. "We had a good blocking night, and when we got blocks we were there to pick up the ball and turn around and run a play on them."
It was the Pioneers' fifth sweep in their eight wins.
Jacobsma, Driskill and Hawkins posted nine, eight and seven kills, respectively, as Wayland hit .213 for the match, compared to OCU's negative .079. Natasha Giacomazzi led the Pioneers in assists with 25 and digs with 11. Hawkins had five block assists and one solo block.
"Offensively, we did a good job as far as our hitting went," Coach Giacomazzi said. "We hit our zones a lot more often, which caused (OCU) to have really bad sideout percentages. On the other side, we did a good job on sideout, almost 60 percent for the match."
The Pioneers play their next three matches at home, starting with a 7 p.m. contest Friday against No. 11 Oklahoma Baptist.
Giacomazzi said that will be a "fun match" for his team.
"(OBU) has a target on their back since they were the (SAC) tournament winners last year and went to the national tournament. They're well coached with some good athletes, and they expect to win. We're up-and-coming whippersnappers.
"It's going to come down to our blocking, stopping their hitting and being able to make adjustments," the coach added. "We'll have to bring our 'A' game."
After OBU, Wayland hosts a doubleheader Saturday, taking on St. Gregory's at 11 a.m. followed by a 5 p.m. non-conference match against Wiley College.
