OCU imposes its will, wins in 3

Box Score

Oklahoma City did a better job imposing its will on Wayland than the Pioneers did on the Stars, and as a result OCU reeled off a 25-17, 25-18, 25-13 Sooner Athletic Conference victory on Saturday morning in Hutcherson Center.

 

"They're a good team. They outplayed us. They made us do things we were uncomfortable with," Wayland coach Jim Giacomazzi said.

 

At the same time, he added, the Pioneers (14-9, 6-5 SAC) didn't adhere to their own game plan against the Stars (15-5, 10-1), who have won 10 straight matches.

 

"Our goal was to limit how many times (OCU libero) Dani Chase touched the ball. Miraculously, she came up with 16 digs. We tipped it to her, gave her free balls… That was outside of our game plan. We didn't follow our game plan.

 

"Our other goal was to not serve (Chase) or No. 7 (Stefani Nell), who is their next best passer, and to serve certain players. We didn't do a good job with that and they converted those for points immediately.

 

"I wanted to force the ball to other people. I expected their setter (Sanja Vojnovic) to have a lot of digs, and she had 15. That's who I wanted to play the ball to so they're out of system. When we did it we were winning points. We just went away from that too much.

 

"Those are some things we have to do a better job with."

 

While OCU put down 47 kills and hit .330, the Pioneers were limited to 20 kills and hit -.020. The Stars were just as dominant elsewhere, too.

 

"They had 27 more kills than we did, 19 more digs (49-30), and their serve-receive percentage was 77 percent to our 50 percent. When you throw those numbers together, they look like the better team," Giacomazzi said.

 

"It was a challenge to get quality digs because we have so many holes in or blocks, and when we have those the back row can't get to every ball."

 

Conversely, OCU ended with 11 blocks.

 

"We were hitting low into the block. You have to give credit to their blockers, but we didn't hit the ball high enough," Giacomazzi said. "We blocked them several times, but they do such a better job of coverage, the balls came up. You have to credit OCU for playing good defense and having good coverage."

 

In the end, the coach said OCU simply wanted it more. 

 

"They had more desire, more passion and more enthusiasm than our side of the net. I told our girls, 'I don't care whether we win or lose, I care how you play the game. I want toyou're your passion and enthusiasm.'

 

"Today, we had six players playing as individuals instead of as a team. We have to do a better job of being determined not to let the other team score two points in a row.

 

Giacomazzi did compliment Jordan Breding and Kara Foreman.

 

"I was pleased with Jordan's hustle, and Kara came off the bench and had two quality swings and a kill and a block-assist."

 

But that was about it.

 

"Making excuses for mediocrity is not something I can handle," Giacomazzi said.

 

The match marked Wayland's first time through all 11 conference opponents. The Pioneers now will play half the teams again prior to the SAC Tournament.

 

"We've gone through the conference now and you're starting to see the cream rise to the top," Giacomazzi said.

 

The Pioneers, currently in fifth place in the conference standings, next head to Oklahoma City to take on Mid-America Christian (8-11, 4-6) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Evangels are in eighth place, and only the top eight teams get into the tournament.

 

When Wayland hosted MACU on Sept. 8, the Pioneers eased to a 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 victory.

 

The Pioneers end next week in Chickasha against last-place Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-14, 1-10). WBU previously swept the Drovers, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13.