Hoping to take advantage of a night off and a visiting team on a long road trip, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team instead fell in three to the John Brown University Golden Eagles on Saturday night in Hutcherson Center, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23.
The Pioneers (9-14, 7-8 Sooner Athletic Conference) were able to take a set off John Brown (13-12, 12-4) when the teams met in Siloam Springs, Ark., on Sept. 14, but Wayland – despite its best blocking performance of the season – committed too many errors (37 attack, 5 service, 3 receiving) to have much success Saturday.
"We practiced blocks and it finally started showing up in the third set. We practiced hitting lines and we did it twice the entire match," frustrated WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said.
Playing without injured senior
Mallorie Ellis, the Pioneers recorded 26 kills and 32 errors on 120 swings for a -.050 hitting percentage. John Brown hit .064, committing 21 errors with 28 kills.
Kellie Kozak led Wayland with 10 kills and hit .143. Kozak also matched her season-high with five blocks.
Alex Wood added four block-assists,
Amber Daniel three and Sadie Hall three.
Wayland ended with 18 block-assists and one solo for a season-best 10 total blocks.
Jordan Breding dug 16 balls and
Jessica Nguyen 10.
The Golden Eagles, who also swept Oklahoma-Panhandle State on the road Friday night, 26-24, 25-12, 25-23, remained in fourth place in the league standings. Wayland is tied for sixth with Mid-America Christian.
Wayland, which picked up a forfeit win courtesy of Bacone College on Friday, wraps up its home schedule next weekend, hosting last-place Central Christian (1-18, 0-16) at 7 p.m. Friday then next-to-last Langston (5-22, 2-14) at 11 a.m. Saturday. Friday will be senior night for Ellis and Wood.
The Pioneers then wrap the regular-season with road games at OPSU, Southwestern Christian and Oklahoma City.
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