Box Score SALINA, Kan. – The 24
th-ranked Wayland Baptist volleyball team concluded its weekend and its pre-conference schedule with a fourth straight win Saturday afternoon, defeating the host team of the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Kansas Wesleyan Invitational, 25-18, 25-18, 25-8.
"Overall it was a good experience for us," coach
Jim Giacomazzi said of the tournament, which saw the Pioneers (12-2) win 12 of 13 sets, also sweeping Tabor College (Kan.) and York College (Neb.) on Friday while suffering their only set loss to College of the Ozarks (Mo.) to open Saturday morning's match.
Wayland's
Grecia Rivera and
Shahala Hawkins were named to the all-tournament team.
Wayland's 12-2 record matches the best start in school history. The 2009 Pioneers also were 12-2 after winning their first 11 matches. That team ultimately finished 21-9, which this year's team certainly hopes to surpass.
"This is one of the better starts we've had in the last seven or eight years, so I'm pleased with that part," Giacomazzi said.
Kansas Wesleyan (10-8) came into Saturday afternoon's match having won four in a row, most recently a five-set victory over Wayland's fellow Sooner Athletic Conference member John Brown University on Saturday morning. But the Coyotes were no match for the Pioneers, who unofficially committed only seven hitting errors the entire contest while coming up with six solo blocks and 13 block assists. (Official stats were not immediately available.)
"It seemed like we had a very good blocking night," Giacomazzi said.
Rivera led the team with 12 kills while also getting 10 digs, one block, four block assists and an ace. Hawkins added eight kills, two solo blocks, four block assists and two aces.
Chelsey Driskill,
Mackenzie Clark and
Claire Jacobsma each had five kills, and
Mercades Torres ended with eight digs and an ace.
"I was pleased with Mercades," Giacomazzi said.
The Pioneers are close to ending their month-long, 16-match road trip. This week, they'll play three matches in Oklahoma City, first opening SAC play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Mid-America Christian before taking on Oklahoma City University at 11 a.m. Saturday. A non-conference match against East Central University at 1 p.m. Saturday ends the long road swing before Wayland returns to Hutcherson Center for a Sept. 27 match against SAC newcomer Southwestern Christian University.
"The girls are pretty excited. They get to sleep in their own bed for more than two days before we hit the road," Giacomazzi said, adding that the players' professors also will be glad to know they will be in class more regularly. "We'll get to get into bit of a routine now."
