OKLAHOMA CITY – Mid-America Christian took advantage of a depleted Wayland Baptist lineup as the Evangels defeated the Pioneers in Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball action here Monday night, 25-20, 25-11, 25-17.
Kellie Kozak recorded 10 kills with just one error and hit .375 while also leading the Pioneers (10-14, 5-7 SAC) with two aces and a solo block. As a team, Wayland hit .030, compared to .301 for MACU (10-7, 8-4), which got 21 kills from Hannah Focker, who hit .500.
WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi, who was hoping his team could build off last Wednesday's dominating road win over USAO, pointed to his team's mistakes.
"We only scored 23 points – that's it – and made 42 errors," he said of the Pioneers' 17 hitting errors, season-high 10 blocking errors, seven reception errors, six service errors and two passing miscues.
Wayland limited its errors in the opening set, making only eight, but couldn't get the win. The Pioneers led it, 18-17, but MACU registered the final four points to take it.
In the second, the Evangels jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never trailed. Then in the third Wayland was within 16-15 before MACU scored nine of the final 11 points.
The Evangels also beat Wayland in Plainview on Sept. 6 in the conference opener, 25-21, 25-19, 25-17.
Jordan Breding's 13 digs paced the Pioneers, while
Renzelle Horner finished with 18 assists.
The match ended a four-match road swing for Wayland, which returns home to face last-place Central Christian (3-20, 0-12) at 7 p.m. Friday then Langston (5-18, 2-10) at 11 a.m. Saturday. WBU swept Central Christian and took out Langston in four during the first half of league play.
Wayland again took the floor with just nine players as sophomore hitter
Tatijana Markic missed her fifth straight match and junior hitter
Amber Daniel her third straight due to injury. In fact, Giacomazzi reported the team will be without Daniel, a two-time all-SAC honoree, the rest of the season due to injury.
"We're looking forward to being home and getting some practice under our belts the next couple of days," Giacomazzi said. "We have to improve every time we practice and every time we play a match."
