Jim Giacomazzi tried to look on the bright side of things.
"As poorly as we played, we did a lot of good things. We kept them out of the system they run and minimized their top hitters. Unfortunately, they have four solid hitters, and two of them were able to have a good night," Giacomazzi said after his Wayland Baptist volleyball team came out on the wrong end of a 25-18, 25-18, 25-7 decision to Texas Wesleyan on Friday night in Hutcherson Center.
Wayland entered the match atop the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, but the Pioneers (3-5, 3-1) never really got untracked against the visiting Rams (6-4, 3-0), who now share first place in the league with Oklahoma City and the team Wayland faces next, Southwestern Assemblies of God. The Lady Lions (8-1, 3-0), ranked the equivalent of 27
th in the NAIA, rolled over Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Friday in Goodwell, 25-12, 25-16, 25-22.
"Hopefully we play better," Giacomazzi said. He then took that statement back, saying, "No, we will play better."
Friday's match didn't start well for Wayland, which hit its first two serves into the net. Still, the Pioneers rallied and tied it at 7 when Wesleyan went on a 6-0 run.
In the second set, the Pioneers held a 7-5 lead but another extended Rams run – this one seven straight points – changed the momentum. WBU answered with five unanswered to knot it at 12, but shortly after that the visitors did the same to lead 20-15. Wesleyan finished it out from there.
"When we stayed within our game plan we were going toe-to-toe with them," Giacomazzi said.
Wayland was never in the third set, falling behind 15-4 and ultimately suffering by far its most lopsided score of the season, 25-7.
"The third set was an anomaly," Giacomazzi said. "We're a really good passing team, but we started doubting ourselves, and when you doubt yourself bad things happen. We know we're going to make mistakes, but we need to think positively and learn from the mistake and try to use it to set up the next play."
Wayland ended with the same number of blocking errors, 21, as kills.
Mallorie Ellis had a team-high seven kills,
Amber Daniel six and
Kellie Kozak four.
"Our main offense had a terrible night. Twenty-one hitting errors and 21 kills, so it was point-for-point," Giacomazzi said. "Three nights ago (against USAO) we had 40 assists from our setter (
Jessica Nguyen ended with 17 Friday). "She put up some good balls but we didn't do anything with them, and we couldn't convert others because the pass was bad."
Daniel and
Jordan Breding dug 12 balls apiece, while Nguyen had 11. The match saw just one block, by Texas Wesleyan. The Rams served up 10 aces and had 36 kills while hitting .229.
"We have as good of athletes as anyone. We had some nice plays and nice rallies we wound up losing. They could have gone either way," Giacomazzi said.
"As we get healthier our team is going to change a little bit."
