Volleyball opens SAC Tourney in Fort Worth

Wayland Baptist must quickly make an about-face as the Pioneers open play in the Sooner Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament on Tuesday.

After dropping three matches last week, including Saturday's hard-fought five-setter against co-conference champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City University, the sixth-seeded Pioneers (11-17, 9-11 SAC) open tournament play in Fort Worth against third-seeded Texas Wesleyan (22-9, 17-3). First serve is at 7 p.m., with coverage links available at www.wbuathletics.com.

The eight-team, single-elimination tournament begins with the first round at sites of higher-seeded teams then moves on to the semifinals and finals this coming weekend at defending tournament champion Oklahoma City University. Semis begin at 4:30 Friday with the championship starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Against the Rams, who have won six in a row, Wayland will be looking to avenge two regular-season losses. The Pioneers fell in three, 25-18, 25-18, 25-7, on Sept. 7 in Plainview before falling in four, 25-12, 25-9, 21-25, 25-12, on Oct. 13 in Fort Worth.

The Rams have won six straight.

OCU and SAGU shared the regular-season title for the second year in a row. As the top seed, the two-time defending conference tournament champion Stars claimed one of the conference's national tournament berths while the winner of the SAC Tournament will be awarded the other automatic spot.

The NAIA Championship Opening Round will be played Nov. 17 on campus sites around the nation. The NAIA Championships will be Nov. 27-Dec. 1 at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
 
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At Campus Sites
Tuesday, Nov. 6
No. 5 Southwestern Christian (20-7) at No. 4 John Brown (16-14)
No. 6 Wayland Baptist (11-17) at No. 3 Texas Wesleyan (22-9), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Mid-America Christian (14-16) at No. 2 Southwestern Assemblies of God (27-3), 7 p.m.
No. 8 Panhandle State (9-20) at No. 1 Oklahoma City (27-3), 7:30 p.m.

At Abe Lemons Arena, Oklahoma City
Friday, Nov. 9
JBU-SCU winner vs. OCU-OPSU winner, 4:30 p.m.
MACU-SAGU winner vs. TXWES-WBU winner, 45 minutes following conclusion of first semifinal
Saturday, Nov. 10
Championship
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.