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Box Score 2 DENVER – Every coach wants to win every contest, but Wayland Baptist's
Jim Giacomazzi isn't that unhappy that his Pioneer volleyball team went 3-1 at the season-opening Wildcat Invitational here Friday and Saturday.
After splitting Friday's matches, falling to Rocky Mountain (Mont.), 25-11, 25-16, 25-9, but defeating York (Neb.) 25-16, 25-15, 25-18, Wayland on Saturday won both of its outings, first with ease over host Johnson & Wales (Colo.) 25-10, 25-18, 27-25, and then closing the tournament with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18 victory over the University of Providence (Mont.).
"I was very pleased," Giacomazzi said following the win over Providence. "The girls are doing a fantastic job. They have a great attitude, are working hard and making great match adjustments. They are learning under stress, which is something we can't re-create in practice.
"This was a good experience."
In Saturday's first match against Johnson & Wales, Wayland was credited with nine aces, including four by
Lindsey Schwab and two by
Amber Daniel. WBU hit .176 compared to the Wildcats' .027.
Megan Sharratt put down 11 kills and hit .348 while Daniel added eight kills and
Kellie Kozak six.
Jordan Breding went down for 23 digs and Daniel nine, and
Elisabeth Piroli tallied 26 assists.
"We were a little lethargic. We should have won every game by the same score (25-10) that we did the first one," Giacomazzi said.
Against Providence, the Pioneers stepped up their intensity.
"They did everything we've been training to do," Giacomazzi said.
Providence went into the match having won its first three matches of the season before falling earlier in the day to defending national champion, top-ranked Hastings (Neb.) in three, 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21.
"Providence is a huge team. They might have 10 girls over six-foot," Giacomazzi said.
The Pioneers gained confidence by winning the first set, 25-21, then after dropping the second, 25-22, Wayland rebounded and took the next two, 20 and 18.
"The last set we played really well," Giacomazzi said. "We hit .351, so I was very happy to see that many balls in play."
Mallorie Ellis, who finished with 20 points, exploded for 17 kills to lead three Pioneers in double figures. Sharratt added 13 kills and Daniel 10 as WBU hit .186. Piroli recorded 39 assists and Breding nine.
"Our ball control was better than theirs," Giacomazzi said. "Mallorie had some very timely shots, and Amber had some nice tips in the deep corner. Elisabeth had some timely dumps."
Wayland also had a strong blocking match with 20 block-assists, including Sharratt with six and Ellis and Kozak with four apiece.
"Our blocking was great. It looked really, really good," Giacomazzi said.
Breding produced 24 digs, Ellis 14 and Piroli 11.
"It was really a good night," Giacomazzi said.
Wayland returns to the road Tuesday, heading to Hobbs, N.M., to take on University of the Southwest at 7 p.m. CST. The Lady Mustangs, who defeated the Pioneers in Plainview in three last season, are 2-2 after splitting matches in the Red River/Sooner Athletic Conference Crossover Tournament this weekend. USW defeated St. Gregory's in three and SAC newcomer Oklahoma Panhandle State in four while losing in three to both Texas Wesleyan and Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
