ORANGE CITY, Iowa – What Jim Giacomazzi figured would be a tough opening weekend for his Wayland Baptist volleyball team turned into an almost impossible task when – due to injuries and other circumstances – the Pioneers' roster was reduced to the very minimum number. The result was an 0-for-4 showing at the Red Raider Classic.
"The quality of the teams we played were top notch," Giacomazzi said.
After falling in straight sets Friday to two tough Iowa teams, Briar Cliff and No. 7 Northwestern, WBU went against two more formidable opponents Saturday and again fell in straight sets. Wayland was boosted by the return of all-conference junior Amber Daniel, but succumbed to Concordia, Neb., 25-22, 25-8, 25-17, before bowing out with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-16 setback to No. 11 Dordt, Iowa.
"Amber was able to play today," giving Wayland seven available players, Coach Giacomazzi said. "We weren't scrambling all around as much. We played better (Saturday)."
After turning in two negative team hitting percentages Friday, Wayland was able to improve to .035 against Concordia, which hit .281. Daniel put down eight kills and hit .174, while Tatijana Markic had seven kills. Sadie (Staton) Hall had three kills with no errors in seven attempts and hit .429.
Daniel also had seven digs, two fewer than the team-high nine by freshman sister Brenna. Hall wound up with six.
Stats against Dordt were not immediately available.
"We're improving on making better decisions under stress. Our serving and defense are starting to get better," Giacomazzi said.
It's the second straight season WBU opened by being blanked at a tournament, having suffered the same fate last season in California. The Pioneers now hope to do what last season's team did, win their next three matches.
The first comes at 7 p.m. Wednesday when Wayland makes its home debut against University of the Southwest of Hobbs, N.M. USW similarly lost its first three matches, 3-0, to Southwestern Christian, Mid-America Christian and Oklahoma City. The Mustangs faced another Sooner Athletic Conference opponent, Langston, later Saturday.
Giacomazzi hopes to have a more complete roster by Wednesday.
"We might have a full team by then. I'm optimistic that Lucie (Mahelova) and Ariel (Marquez) will be eligible by then, and Jordan (Breding) might be back (from injury). It would be nice to have another couple of bodies healthy and have some substitution options."
