Box Score BETHANY, Okla. — Hoping to get their weekend started on the right foot, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team instead dropped their straight straight Sooner Athletic Conference match to Southwestern Christian University here Friday night, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-19.
"It was very disappointing," WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said.
One of the most disappointing aspects for the Pioneers (9-12, 4-5 SAC) was being unable to hold onto a 9-point lead in the first set. Wayland led 21-12, but the Eagles (10-8, 4-5) rallied to win 13 of the next 15 points and steal the set.
Wayland turned the tables in set 2, rallying from an early six-point hole to win, 25-23.
But the Pioneers couldn't carry the momentum over into the third, when SCU trailed 11-9 before scoring 11 straight to take control and go on to win, 25-17.
Then, in set four, the Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never lost the lead.
The loss leaves WBU and SCU tied for sixth place in the SAC standings. The Pioneers now lead the all-time series with the Eagles, 9-3.
Compounding the loss was a second-set injury to junior
Amber Daniel, which forced Giacomazzi to turn to another injured player,
Lucie Mahelova.
"We weren't planning on playing Lucie at all this weekend, but we needed her to play in the front row," the coach said.
"We're the walking wounded right now."
Official statistics were not immediately available.
"Even with all the girls out (with injury), we made too many mistakes," Giacomazzi said. "Missed serves, hit balls out too much…"
Giacomazzi said Daniel is not expected to play when the Pioneers line up against No. 24 Oklahoma City (15-1, 9-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Stars have won 14 in a row, with 13 of those victories in straight sets including a 25-16, 25-23, 25-9 triumph over Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Friday.
Saturday's match marks the end to the first half of conference play for the Pioneers.
