OKLAHOMA CITY – Less than 24 hours after an "ugly win" in Kansas, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team produced a very good-looking victory in Oklahoma City where the Pioneers secured a 27-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-16 triumph over red-hot Mid-America Christian University.
"I was pleased with the difference between today and (Friday) night. Even though we won (in three over Central Christian), it was frustrating because we didn't play well," WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said. "Today, even if we had lost I would have been tickled because we played without fear and had a better mental outlook."
The change came after a meaningful team meeting following Friday's match, which resulted in the first win of the season for Wayland.
"We had a visit last night with the players and had them write down and share some physical and mental goals – measurable and accountable – they wanted to accomplish today," Giacomazzi said.
The coach said the team kept tabs on their goals throughout Saturday's match, and it paid off with a win against a team that was 9-1 with wins in its last nine outings.
"We executed today, and against a team that's been doing really well and has some hitters. MACU has a first-team all-conference player (Hannah Foecker), and this is MACU's best team in several years.
"It was an exciting win for us."
Several players turned in their best performances of the young season, among them freshman Jayla Shultz who logged a dozen kills and hit .500 to go with seven digs, two solo blocks and five block-assists.
"It was her best game by far," Giacomazzi said.
First-year junior transfer
Paxton Patterson matched Schultz's 12 kills and hit .333 while logging eight digs and eight block-assists.
Kellie Kozak (.333) and
Tatijana Markic had seven kills each, while
Amber Daniel and
Tevia Bell ended with 13 digs each, and
Lucie Mahelova 12 digs and 40 assists. Markic also had nine digs and Kozak five block-assists.
Wayland (2-3) hit a season-best .246 as a team.
"This was by far our best offensive game," Giacomazzi said.
WBU recorded 13 blocks (3 solo, 10 assists), the most for the program in five years. (The Pioneers also had 13 blocks once last season and once in 2017).
"We could have had even more (blocks)," Giacomazzi said. "We didn't always get (the block), but our feet were there, which was good to see."
The Pioneers are next in action Friday, Nov. 6 against Science & Arts of Oklahoma in what will be the team's final home match of the season. USAO is 1-7, having lost in five to both Central Christian and MACU in its last two matches.
