Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – In their final match before what figures to be a showdown for control of the Sooner Athletic Conference, No. 20 Wayland Baptist waltzed past Mid-America Christian here Friday night, 25-14, 25-10, 25-20.
"We wanted to develop electricity on our side of the net, and we did that early on, although not so much in the third set," said Wayland coach
Jim Giacomazzi. "That's kind of backwards from what we had been doing. Tonight we started out better but then lost a little enthusiasm as the much wore on."
Wayland (14-3, 4-0 SAC), playing without
Emily Welch who was out sick but with setter
Tyler Gasaloga for the first time since the first week of the season, took 5-0 leads in the first two sets and easily put both away. The third was more of a challenge, with MACU (9-4, 2-3) leading most of the way until the Pioneers tied it at 13-all. From there, Wayland took control and finished out the set to secure its fifth straight win.
"We sustained some enthusiasm for longer periods and were able to work on being in the right places defensively," Giacomazzi said.
Wayland hit .214 compared to MACU's -.027.
Shahala Hawkins paced the Pioneers with 15 kills while hitting .407, followed by
Cindy Horn with eight kills and
Chelsey Driskill and
Mallorie Ellis with five each. Horn recorded three of WBU's seven aces while three players had double-digit digs:
Rossanna Ramos with 16, Gasaloga with 12 and Horn with 10. Hawkins finished with three solo blocks and four block assists, while Gasaloga had 19 assists and
Cat Wiechmann 12.
Giacomazzi said Gasaloga performed well in her first court action in more than a month.
"She did a good job," the coach said. "Tyler gives us a chance to have a little more defense in the back row. Her speed and recognition of some things and comfort at the net will improve. Those things all take time."
The Pioneers will be back at it at 11 a.m. Saturday against OCU (8-3, 3-0), whose three losses – like Wayland – came against teams in the Top 25, or receiving votes.
"They have some athletes that can bang the ball," Giacomazzi said.
Saturday's winner will take the driver's set for the No. 1 seed for the conference playoffs, Giacomazzi said.
"We have to bring our 'A' game against everyone, but this is the match that matters," he said. "A win tomorrow makes our path less challenging."
