(This match was later forfeited by WBU).
OKLAHOMA CITY – Coach
Jim Giacomazzi called it "one of those nights."
Looking for its seventh-straight win while kicking off a seven-match road swing, the Wayland Baptist volleyball team was upended by Oklahoma City University in a matchup of Sooner Athletic Conference heavyweights here Friday night, 25-23, 25-19, 25-23.
"It was disappointing," Giacomazzi said. "They have some strong players and had a good game plan for us, and we didn't have an answer."
The Pioneers (14-5, 7-2 SAC), ranked the equivalent of 29
th in the NAIA, were looking to extend their first-place lead with a win, but instead find themselves in a four-way tie for first with OCU (8-5, 7-2), Texas Wesleyan (10-5, 7-2) and Southwestern Assemblies of God (13-5, 7-2). SAGU is ranked the equivalent of 34
th and OCU the equivalent of 38
th.
"OCU is starting to fire on all cylinders. We have to bring our 'A' game against teams like that, and we were just a little bit out of sync all the way around," Giacomazzi said. "We have to come out firing hard."
The Pioneers almost matched OCU in kills, 37-to-36, but Wayland committed 28 hitting errors compared to 18 for the Stars.
"We had too many errors. Sometimes your hitters don't have it. It happens sometimes."
OCU ended with 22 block-assists.
"They blocked really well. Our middle attack was pretty much non-existent and so they were able to key on the outside," Giacomazzi said.
The coach said the Pioneers "have to block better and set up the block better.
"We played some great, scramble defense. That's good but we shouldn't have been scrambling. We were out of system too much."
Tatijana Markic led Wayland with 13 kills while
Amber Daniel had 12. No other Pioneer had more than six. OCU's Ella Lofton, with 13, was the only Star with more than seven kills.
Lucie Mahelova ended with 16 digs while
Ariel Marquez and Daniel had 15 each. OCU had seven aces compared to two for WBU.
WBU will take on Southwestern Christian (6-8, 2-6) at 1 p.m. Saturday. That match marks the end of the first half of SAC play.
"Hopefully we'll be able to make adjustments and get some fundamentals fixed," Giacomazzi said.
