Box Score SHAWNEE, Okla. – Wayland Baptist handled a tiring drive earlier in the day to defeat St. Gregory's University in Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball action here Friday night, 25-17, 25-16, 25-21.
WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said making the close to six-hour drive is "like having three practices that day before getting on the court."
So, he told his team, which this week is ranked the equivalent of 29
th in the NAIA, in order to overcome that physical setback, "We're going to have to make up for it with our brains."
And for the most part, he said, they did just that.
"Several of our older players got after it," Giacomazzi said, adding that, "Things got a little sloppy toward the end (of sets) because our younger girls don't always have the maturity yet to take care of things. They have good attitudes and they're learning, but now they have to start scoring points instead of making mistakes.
"If we keep doing what we're doing there's not going to be a different result when we play (No. 23) Oklahoma City."
But the Pioneers (17-5, 7-1 SAC) had more than enough to take care of St. Gregory's (4-11, 1-7), even though the Lady Cavaliers are much improved over past years.
"They have some players," Giacomazzi said. "They're the No. 8 team in our conference (in the standings), but you can't ever take for granted that the other team is not going to be there. They're always going to be there."
Wayland was led by
Shahala Hawkins with 11 kills (.348) and 3½ blocks, while
Chelsey Driskill tacked on eight kills (.400). The Pioneers, after hitting .269 in the first set, finished the match hitting .151, compared to .022 for St. Greg's, which Giacomazzi said was shorthanded due to injuries to four starters.
Rossanna Ramos produced 14 digs, followed by
Emily Welch with 11 and
Tyler Gasaloga with nine. Welch and Gasaloga chipped in a dozen assists each. Hawkins and
Cindy Horn had two aces each.
WBU is back on the court at 11 a.m. Saturday in Bethany, Okla., to face Southwestern Christian (10-13, 3-5), which has won three of its last four outings over St. Greg's in three, Mid-America Christian in four, and Bacone in five.
"Southwestern Christian scheduled well," Giacomazzi said. "They are learning how to win."
Wayland defeated the Golden Eagles on Sept. 11 in Plainview, 25-13, 25-19, 25-11.
