Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – On this Halloween night, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team wasn't looking for any tricks, just treats.
The 19
th-ranked Pioneers got exactly what they wanted, sweeping Oklahoma City University in Sooner Athletic Conference play on Friday at Abe Lemons Arenas, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20. Junior
Shahala Hawkins got a bonus treat as she became the all-time kills leader for Wayland.
"That was a very nice win," Wayland coach
Jim Giacomazzi said. "It's a good reward for a lot of hard work by the girls this past week. They're starting to show a lot more concentration, and it's lasting more than a couple of points. It's lasting a whole set, a whole match!"
Against an Oklahoma City team that had strung together five wins in a row, including a victory over then No. 20 Oklahoma Baptist, to receive Top 25 votes this week, Wayland (18-9 overall, 11-2 SAC) was simply too tough for the Stars (18-10, 10-4).
The first set saw OCU surge to a 4-1 lead, but Wayland quickly fought back to tie it at 6. It was knotted at 17 when the Pioneers scored four in a row, a run that included kills by
Katie Inman,
Chelsey Driskill and
Morgan Seaton. From there the Pioneers cruised to the 25-20 win.
Wayland was in control of the second set from the start, surging to a 17-8 lead after a string of attack errors by the Stars, an ace by
Ashlyn Westerman and a kill by Hawkins. The Stars managed to close the gap before another kill by Hawkins finished them off, 25-19.
Set number three was tied at 6 when Wayland took advantage of more service and attack errors by OCU, and a kill by Seaton, to assume a 10-6 edge. Back-to-back aces by Hawkins and another series of OCU mistakes ultimately sent Wayland to its ninth consecutive victory.
Giacomazzi said the Pioneers "did a good job preparing for this team" by studying their tendencies, especially those of SAC Player of the Week Kristen Macy and Hitter of the Week Meghan Irwin who tend to hit cross-court.
"We were able to get a couple of blocks because we're anticipating and reading things better," Giacomazzi said. "For freshmen to do that, that's great."
The Pioneers also did a good job defending OCU's back-row attacks and staying with the Stars' setter.
"We knew she dumps the ball a lot," Giacomazzi said.
With her team-high 14 kills, Hawkins broke the school record for kills in a season with 531, one more than
Analicia Estrada recorded in 2007.
"A special person like Shahala doesn't come around often," Giacomazzi said. "She has done a terrific job learning the sport and really has become a student of the game. She's also a good student in the classroom, an amazing athlete and just a great person."
Hawkins, who continues to lead the NAIA in kills per set at 5.4, still has three more regular-season matches and the playoffs to pad her new record.
"She's had a phenomenal year," Giacomazzi said.
Hawkins also recorded one solo and four block assists against the Stars.
Seaton and Driskill both finished with nine kills, with Seaton, a freshman, hitting a season-high .563.
"Morgan had a great night," Giacomazzi said. "I can't speak highly enough about how far she's come."
Cat Wiechmann matched Hawkins' two assists and had 10 digs, three fewer than
Emily Welch's team-high 13. Westerman tallied 29 assists.
Wayland plays its final regular-season road match at 11 a.m. Saturday across town against Mid-America Christian (3-23, 1-2). The Pioneers then return home for their final two home outings against OBU at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 and Southwestern Christian (10-19, 1-2) at 11 a.m. the next day to wrap up the regular-season.
Because OBU, which is transitioning to NCAA Division II, cannot host post-season competitions during its transition year, Friday's win over OCU all but clinched Wayland being host of the conference tournament.
"This puts us in good position," Giacomazzi said.
