Giacomazzi expects another contender

It seems to be the case almost every Wayland Baptist volleyball season. Coach Jim Giacomazzi goes into it with a mixed roster of veterans and newcomers, all trying to mesh and grow together. Over the next couple of months that happens, and the Pioneers wind up contending for the Sooner Athletic Conference championship and competing in the NAIA National Championships.

That's been the pattern the last four seasons, and Giacomazzi fully expects to make it five in 2017.

"Almost every year we start out like this. We start a little slow, a little sluggish. Everybody is getting to know the different personalities and our system. You have to sweat, bleed and cry together, then we start unifying as a team," said Giacomazzi, who starts his 11^th season at Wayland when the Pioneers compete this weekend at the Wildcat Invitational hosted by Johnson & Wales University in Denver.

Wayland's first match is at 10 a.m. (CDT) Friday against Rocky Mountain College (Mont.), followed by a meeting with York (Neb.). On Saturday the Pioneers take on host Johnson & Wales at 12:30 p.m. then wind up taking on University of Providence (Mont.) at 3.

The Pioneers have been working out since Aug. 8 and scrimmaged Clarendon College earlier this week. Giacomazzi has liked what he's seen.

"Everybody is working really hard. We just need a lot of touches on the ball between now and our first conference match Sept. 8 to see where we need to go forward. As we're able to make good decisions under stress, we'll become a better team," the coach said.

Wayland brings back six players off last year's squad that finished with a 24-16 record and was the conference runner-up before falling in the NAIA Opening Round to Tabor (Kan.). Joining those six veterans are seven newcomers.

"It's like we're a new team. We have a lot of new people, and several of them are going to step onto the court and play," Giacomazzi said. "We're in a process of learning people's names still, but more importantly we're trying to figure out our offensive system, our defensive system, what we do in transition… We're still learning who is an aggressive person on the court, who's not as aggressive, working on a lot of technique, and figuring out how we do things here as a Pioneer."

Unfortunately, the team has been slowed a bit by several injuries, resulting in lots of ice baths for sore muscles.

"Probably the most important member on the team right now is Emily (trainer Emily Huston). We have so much tape it looks like we're getting ready to get entombed in sarcophagi in Egypt. Most of it is early-season injuries – hamstrings, quads, groin issues. They're starting to use muscles they haven't used in a while. Some of them could have come in a little better prepared and worked over the summer. Now we have to adapt and take things a little bit slower."

Still, all 13 will be available in some capacity this weekend. Only senior Alex Wood, a second-team all-conference junior hitter last season after averaging a team-best 3.4 kills per game, and freshman Jessica Nguyen, won't be, as both are redshirting. Besides Wood, also missing from last season's roster will be SAC Libero of the Year Rossanna Ramos, who expired her eligibility, and all-conference honorable mention pick Jessica Stohlmann, who did not return to the team.

"We have some experience, but every year at the beginning I still feel like Vince Lombardi pulling out a football and saying, 'OK, boys, we're going to start at the beginning. This is a football…'"

While there is, of course, teaching of technique, defenses and the like, much of what happens for players in the first few weeks of the season is learning each other.

"We have so many new people it changed the entire dynamic. But the girls are getting along and they're all pleasant to be around. They're all very attentive and have that I-want-to attitude. They have a very good mindset of understanding that change is necessary and mistakes are part of change. We have to understand that mistakes aren't going to kill us, but hopefully they'll learn from them knowing that will make us a better team."

Giacomazzi is happy with what he's seen from his six veterans.

"The returners are looking good. They're helping the others, who are a little bit in survival mode. It's like teaching them how to swim by throwing them in the deep end. But for those that survive we're going to be pretty good, although we might have to resuscitate a few of them."

The veterans include senior Megan Sharratt and junior Mallorie Ellis, who were all-conference second team and honorable mention, respectively, in 2016. Sharratt, a 6-foot middle from Albuquerque, N.M., averaged close to 2½ kills and a team-high 0.63 blocks and 0.38 aces while Ellis, a 5-8 left-side hitter from Brownfield, was second on the team in kills at 1.19 to go with 2.36 digs and 0.30 blocks.

"Mallorie is hitting a nice, high ball that has a good pace," Giacomazzi said. "Megan did a great job last year and I'm pleased with what she's doing this early this season. She's starting to connect with Elisabeth (Piroli)." Piroli is a senior setter from Brazil who "worked a lot over the summer and came in a week early to get her forearms and hands in shape. She's our only setter right now, so we trying to be careful with her."

Six-foot senior Lindsey Schwab is back after seeing action in just nine matches last season due to ankle issues. "Lindsey's serving has been good and she's a tall block for us," Giacomazzi said. "She's been playing some right-side."

After seeing quite a bit of playing time last year as freshmen, Sadie Staton, a utility player from Perryton, and Jordan Breding, a libero from Albuquerque, N.M., figure to step up their level of play a notch.

"Sadie will play virtually everywhere. She's such a hard worker and attentive that she's picking things up quickly that she's never been trained on," Giacomazzi said. "Jordan looks to be our libero at this point. She throws her body all over the court, although we need her to get a little bit better reading to protect herself."

A newcomer to the volleyball team, but not to Wayland, is 6-foot Jade Jones, who spent the last two seasons playing basketball for the Flying Queens.
"Jade hasn't play a lot of volleyball since high school, but she's such a good athlete," Giacomazzi said.

Among the newcomers, the coach spotlighted 5-9 freshman left-side Amber Daniels of Lubbock and Kellie Kozak, the last of the Pioneers' four six-footers.

"I've been pleased with Amber, who'll get a lot of playing time outside," Giacomazzi said. Kozak was late arriving from Canada and has only been with the team for three practices, but the coach is encouraged. "She's a little behind as far as touches, but hopefully we'll see a lot of improvement."

Actually, he added, "I've been pleased with everyone's improvement since the first day of practice."

Now, it's time to translate things to matches.

(NOTE: With Central Christian (Kan.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State joining the conference, making for 12 teams, the SAC volleyball schedule features East and West divisions. Wayland is in the West with OPSU, Texas Wesleyan, Southwestern Assemblies of God, Mid-America Christian and Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Those teams will play home-and-home series, while Wayland will play the East division teams – Oklahoma City, John Brown, St. Gregory's, Southwestern Christian, Bacone and Central Christian – just once this season…Both OCU and Texas Wesleyan received votes in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll.)