Pioneers abandon game plan, fall to OCU in 3

The Oklahoma City University Stars showed Wayland Baptist why they're sitting near the top of the Sooner Athletic Conference standings Friday night in Hutcherson Center as the Stars mostly made quick work of the Pioneers, hammering out a 25-16, 25-23, 25-14 victory.
 
Wayland coach Jim Giacomazzi came away frustrated from the loss that dropped his team to 6-10 overall and 5-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
 
"We didn't execute the game plan. We worked on blocking cross-court and they beat us cross-court. We wanted to tip deep corners and we tipped short. The other game plan was dig cross-court and we moved behind the blocker so the digger was out of position," Giacomazzi said.
 
Wayland did put up a good fight in the second game. The Pioneers led three times by a single point midway through, and it was tied at 18 when the Stars (12-2, 7-1) ran off six straight points to make it 24-18. WBU didn't fold, though, fighting off five match points before finally succumbing after a blocking error, 25-23.
 
OCU hit .223 and got 18 kills from junior Marijana Bjelobrk (.343) and 14 from sophomore Lacy Beeler (.250). The Stars totaled 47 kills, more than twice as many as Wayland's 23. The Pioneers, who hit .034, were led by Mallorie Ellis with seven kills and Amber Daniel with six. Tatijana Markic hit .136, which led the Pioneers' top four attackers.
 
"They out-dug us by 19, out-killed us by 24, had 21 more assists than we had, yet I still believe we can beat them," Giacomazzi said. "I might be unrealistic in what I think we can do, but we have the talent to beat them. Now we have to play smarter and make better quality efforts."
 
Jordan Breding finished with 14 digs and three aces while Daniel had a dozen. Jessica Nguyen got all but two of WBU's 22 assists. Kellie Kozak contributed four block-assists.
 
"There were moments out there when it was peaceful and tranquil. We were in the right spot, we got a nice kill, we served the right people… Then it's like a stormy night. All of a sudden we're stripped naked by the wind and elements and our mistakes expose us.
 
"That's the mark of a young team, but still, I have high expectations because I've had other young teams that have done well."
 
Wayland closes out the first half of conference play beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday against Southwestern Christian (9-4, 5-4). The Pioneers and Eagles, who defeated Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Friday in four, 23-25, 25-17, 25-11, 25-17, are tied for fifth in the league standings.
 
It's an important match in that the winner stays on the heels of fourth-place John Brown. The top four finishers in the regular-season host first-round conference tournament matches.
 
"Every point is important," Giacomazzi said.