Box Score GOODWELL, Okla. – Jordan Breding almost broke the school record with 39 digs and Wayland Baptist closed out the regular-season with a see-saw 3-2 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State here Thursday night, winning 25-21, 22-25, 24-26, 26-24, 15-10.
"Overall, it was a tale of two cities. We played well in the first set and had really good serve-receive. In the second and third sets it was atrocious," WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said. "When we passed well we did really well."
After dropping the second and third sets to an OPSU team fighting to get into the conference tournament, Wayland got it back together and, after trailing 16-13 in the fourth, pulled that one out with a solo block by Elisabeth Piroli and a double-block by Kara Foreman and Jade Jones to end it, 26-24.
In the fifth, Wayland rocketed to a 10-3 lead before OPSU (8-17, 5-11) rallied to within 12-10. But the Pioneers closed out the match on back-to-back kills from Daniel and a final smash from Jones to win it, 15-10.
Breding's 39 digs were two short of the school-record 41 set by MaryGrace Moore in 2005.
Giacomazzi said the Pioneers were "a little bit out of sync" due to Mallorie Ellis being "a little dinged up" after she was elbowed and then hit in the face with the ball.
"She came back in the fourth and fifth sets and helped us power through," the coach said. "She struggled hitting but still was a stabilizing force. I was pleased with her determination." Ellis produced 18 digs.
Giacomazzi said the Pioneers dealt with a tough three-hour trip before the match and had their hands full with the Aggies. "They're a scrappy team. They do a really good job of keeping the ball off the floor. I was pleased with our efforts to stay in the game."
The Pioneers finished with 13 blocks, led by Megan Sharratt with one solo and five block-assists. Piroli had one solo and three assists while Jones tallied two apiece.
Giacomazzi praised Foreman, who contributed six kills, five digs and three blocks.
"She came off the bench and did a pretty good job," the coach said.
Sharratt finished with 20 kills while hitting .370, while Daniel had 17 and hit .310 in addition to digging 23 balls.
"Amber was pretty solid," Giacomazzi said. "She's a freshman so she's still learning, but I'm pleased with what she's done and how she's come along."
Jones ended with nine kills, Piroli 52 assists and a dozen digs, and Lindsey Schwab three aces.
The win lifts Wayland to 17-11 on the season and 9-7 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, good for fifth place in the 12-team league. OPSU (8-17, 5-11) likely will just miss the conference tournament as one of the top eight teams.
The Pioneers will be the fifth seed in the upcoming SAC Tournament and play the No. 4 seed, either Texas Wesleyan (22-3, 11-3) or John Brown (25-6, 13-3). If Texas Wesleyan wins at home Friday over USAO and Saturday over Mid-America Christian, the Rams would finish third and Wayland will play John Brown in Arkansas in the first round. If Wesleyan loses one of its two remaining matches, the Pioneers would travel to Fort Worth to face the Rams.
First-round matches are Tuesday.
