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PUEBLO, Colo.-- After three losses to start the tournament, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team came up with a victory in their fourth match at the Colorado State-Pueblo Invitational on Saturday, defeating Missouri Southern-State, 25-19, 25-23, 25-17.
Earlier Saturday, the Pioneers fell to the University of New Haven (Conn.), winning the first set 29-27 then dropping three in a row, 25-14, 25-23, 26-24.
Wayland lost on Friday to Cameron University, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19, and to Eastern New Mexico University, 21-25, 26-24, 25-16, 24-26, 15-7.
Pioneer coach
Jim Giacomazzi came away from the tournament a bit frustrated, yet also encouraged.
"It's frustrating because we know when we're running at full strength, these are not teams we should have lost to," Giacomazzi said. "This tournament was great practice for these girls as we get ready for conference in another week or so. We're staying positive and having fun. Of course it's a lot more fun when you win, but we did well even this morning in the loss against one of the toughest teams in our pool."
In the win against Missouri Southern-State,
Chelsey Driskill and
Shahala Hawkins led with 13 and 11 kills, respectively, as
Natasha Giacomazzi recorded a double-double with 25 assists and 21 digs, both team highs.
"I knew we would stack up better against them," Giacomazzi said.
Against New Haven, Hawkins ended with 17 kills, followed by Driskill with 11. Giacomazzi ended with 42 assists and 26 digs. Archilla added 21 digs and
Tania Gomez 13. Hawkins had one solo block and five block assists.
Coach Giacomazzi said the season thus far has been a learning process for many of his young players.
"We need more repetition, we're so young and raw," he said. "Our freshmen have been thrown into the fire and it's been sink or swim."
Help may be on the way as the Pioneers wait on the eligibility clearance of two new players.
"We're hoping we can get something done by Monday," he said, adding that one of the two players has "pretty much" been cleared by the NAIA. "We just need a signature and for them to say 'yes' and then she'll be eligible."
Now 2-7 on the season, the Pioneers play in Hobbs, N.M., at 7 p.m. (CST) Tuesday against University of the Southwest. Wayland competes in the Lady Chap Classic at Lubbock Christian next Friday and Saturday before opening Sooner Athletic Conference play at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 against Lubbock Christian
