WBU drops 2 after winning 2 at Classic

| Box Score 2 For the second straight weekend, a tournament's day two didn't turn out the way the Wayland Baptist volleyball team wanted.
 
After sweeping both of their matches Friday, the Pioneers dropped a pair Saturday while hosting the Coca-Cola Classic, falling to unbeaten Texas Wesleyan, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-13, before losing to University of the Southwest (N.M.), 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, to close out the five-team, two-day event in Hutcherson Center.
 
"We're a work in progress. The more sets we play, the better we're going to get," Wayland coach Jim Giacomazzi said. "The quote that comes to mind is, 'The only time you find success before work is in the dictionary.' Our success will come after we put in a lot more work."
 
Texas Wesleyan, which is picked to finish third right behind Wayland in the Sooner Athletic Conference, ended the Classic 4-0, followed by Southwest at 3-1, Wayland at 2-2, University of St. Thomas at 1-3, and University of Northwestern Ohio at 0-4.
 
Wayland's Rossanna Ramos and Katie Inman were named to the 10-person all-tournament team.
 
Wayland played all weekend without junior middle Megan Sharratt, who was ill.
 
"Some people got a lot of extra playing time that they probably wouldn't have if Megan wasn't sick, so I see the work that Jessica (Stohlmann), Krista (Epley) and Hanna (Fridriksdottir) got is a plus.
 
"I was very pleased with the effort Krista made. Understanding that she's a freshman and the speed of the game is so much faster in college, she did a fine job. As she gets better she'll make better choices.
 
"I also was pleased with Katie. She had some good kill-to-error ratios and is showing improvement and a desire to get better. She's acknowledging mistakes she's making and trying to correct them herself."
 
Giacomazzi said much of the work ahead for the team centers around the relationship between setters and middles.
 
"That trust is difficult to develop because it relates to the quality of the pass and the faith of both the middle and the setter. Everything is so intertwined. Our setter choices are going to come as they get more experience. Right now there's a challenge there for us, but it was the same thing four or five years ago when Chelsey (Driskill) and Shahala (Hawkins) were new. They struggled, but they both ended up becoming all-Americans."
 
The coach said defense also needs to improve.
 
"A lot of times it's an 'I-got-it, you-take it' deal, and so a lot of balls are hitting the floor," he said.
 
While disappointed they lost twice after winning two on Friday, just like Wayland did in San Antonio the previous weekend, Giacomazzi remains optimistic.
 
"A lot of good things came out of it. We got better as the match went on and started putting in greater effort. Physically they're doing some of the right things, but mentally they're off a little bit because of that trust factor.
 
"The good thing is the girls have the desire to work. I think we have some talent out there, and with continued hard work and discipline, and retaining the technical changes each player needs to make, we'll have a lot of success before the season is over."
 
Wayland next participates in the LaQuinta Kansas Wesleyan Invitational in Salina, Kan., playing four matches against Central Christian (Kan.) and Graceland University (Iowa) on Friday then meeting Kansas Wesleyan and Tabor College (Kan.) on Saturday.
  Friday
Match 1: University of the Southwest (NM) 3, Univ. of St. Thomas 2 (25-22,23-25,15-25,26-24,15-10)
Match 2: Texas Wesleyan 3, Univ. of Northwestern Ohio 0 (25-21,25-18,25-17)
Match 3: Wayland Baptist 3, Univ. of St. Thomas 1 (21-25,25-19,25-20,25-16)
Match 4: Texas Wesleyan 3, Univ. of the Southwest (NM) 0 (25-13,25-12,25-16)
Match 5: Wayland Baptist 3, Univ. of Northwestern Ohio 1 (21-25,25-18,25-18,25-17)
Saturday
Match 6: Texas Wesleyan 3, St. Thomas 1 (25-15,19-25,25-17,25-17)
Match 7: University of the Southwest 3, Northwestern Ohio 1 (25-17,25-14,23-25,25-18)
Match 8: Texas Wesleyan 3, Wayland Baptist 1 (25-22,25-17,21-25,25-13)
Match 9: St. Thomas 3, Northwestern Ohio 2 (25-18, 15-25, 25-11, 23-25, 15-11)
Match 10: University of the Southwest 3, Wayland Baptist 0 (25-21,25-22,25-23)
  Texas Wesleyan (4-0)
Carli Owens
Shelby Stinnett
 
Univ. of Southwest (3-1)
Hannah Massey
Shelby Bartley
 
Wayland Baptist (2-2)
Katie Inman
Rossanna Ramos
 
St. Thomas (1-3)
Carissa Moran
Candace Grosjean
 
NW Ohio (0-4)
Kendall Stoll
Louise Back