Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Wayland Baptist University Athletics

vb usao 2

Volleyball

Pioneers 'take care of business' vs. USAO

Box Score "We took care of business this weekend," Wayland coach Jim Giacomazzi said after the Wayland Baptist volleyball team pulled off a second Sooner Athletic Conference sweep in some 17 hours, this time upending Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13.
 
Much like Friday night's 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 conference-opening win over Mid-America Christian, Wayland (8-2, 2-0 SAC) was hardly challenged by MACU (1-5, 0-2), although the Drovers did put up a bit of a fight in the third set. The visitors from Chickasha were up 9-4 before WBU ran off 14 unanswered points. The run included three aces by Elisabeth Piroli, kills by Mallorie Ellis, Kellie Kozak and Amber Daniel, and seven attack errors by USAO.
 
"You never know if you're going to win it. That's why you play the games," Giacomazzi said. "We got a lot of people play time this weekend."
 
About the only hiccup was a late-match knee issue with Daniel.
 
"Hopefully it's a minor thing," Giacomazzi said of the freshman's injury. "Amber has been really solid for us all year."
 
So has senior Megan Sharratt, who turned in another stellar performance with a season-high 15 kills on 20 swings with only one error for a .700 hitting percentage.
 
"Megan had another nice match. She even got three digs. She's getting more of those as the season goes," Giacomazzi said.
 
The coach also praised Ellis (12 digs, five kills). "She had a nice match. It's nice when she's running on all cylinders."
 
Kozak also ended with five kills while hitting .250. "Kellie had a great day. She's getting her technique down and showing lots of improvement."
So, too, is senior Jade Jones, the former Flying Queen standout who joined the volleyball team this season.
 
"Jade had a couple of nice swings and good touches on the ball," Giacomazzi said. "She's a strong athlete, and as she gets more experience she'll be able to contribute more to help us have success."
 
Piroli finished with 33 assists, eight digs, five aces and two block-assists. "Elisabeth had some good numbers," Giacomazzi said.
 
Giacomazzi also complimented his team's serve-receive.
 
"It's been very good the last two matches. I don't know if we're really good or the other teams didn't serve that hard at us."
 
The Pioneers figure to face two tougher tests this week when they hit the road to face Texas Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Friday in Fort Worth then Southwestern Assemblies of God at 11 a.m. Saturday in Waxahachie. Texas Wesleyan (9-1), the only SAC team receiving Top 25 votes, ranked the equivalent of 32nd, lost its first match in its conference debut to SAGU (10-2) at home earlier this week, falling 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25.
 
"Those are two teams I respect a lot," Giacomazzi said. "They're well-coached and have nice athletes. Both expect to have good seasons."
 
The matches start a stretch of six road games in seven outings, capped by a tournament Sept. 22 and 23 in Point Lookout, Mo.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Mallorie Ellis

#2 Mallorie Ellis

LS
5' 8"
Junior
Elisabeth Piroli

#18 Elisabeth Piroli

S
5' 10"
Senior
Megan  Sharratt

#12 Megan Sharratt

M
6' 0"
Senior
Kellie Kozak

#5 Kellie Kozak

MH
6' 0"
Freshman
Jade  Jones

#11 Jade Jones

RS/MH
6' 0"
Senior
Amber Daniel

#13 Amber Daniel

LS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mallorie Ellis

#2 Mallorie Ellis

5' 8"
Junior
LS
Elisabeth Piroli

#18 Elisabeth Piroli

5' 10"
Senior
S
Megan  Sharratt

#12 Megan Sharratt

6' 0"
Senior
M
Kellie Kozak

#5 Kellie Kozak

6' 0"
Freshman
MH
Jade  Jones

#11 Jade Jones

6' 0"
Senior
RS/MH
Amber Daniel

#13 Amber Daniel

5' 9"
Freshman
LS

Sponsors