(This match was later forfeited by WBU).
CHICKASHA, Okla. – On the eve of a big match against a top conference challenger, league-leader Wayland Baptist continued its all-time unbeaten streak against last-lace Science & Arts of Oklahoma here Friday evening, prevailing 26-24, 25-11, 25-27, 25-9.
"This is the most well-coached (Science & Arts) team they've ever had. Their coach did a good job getting players, and she does a good job coaching them," Wayland coach
Jim Giacomazzi said.
Maybe a bit lethargic from their trip, the Sooner Athletic Conference co-leading Pioneers (18-5, 11-2 SAC) dropped the first five points of the match. Wayland quickly got back in it, though, and took an 8-7 lead. The set remained tight the entire way, with back-to-back kills by
Tatijana Markic and
Amber Daniel giving the Pioneers the two-point win.
S&A (8-15, 1-12) also held the upper and in set No. 2, 7-5. But WBU went on a 12-1 run and ran away with it, 25-11.
Conversely, Wayland got off to a hot start in the third, 8-3, but the Drovers scratched and clawed and managed to fight off match-point then win three straight points, the last two on Pioneer hitting errors.
"They played well and we made quite a few mistakes in that set," Giacomazzi said. "We had nine hitting errors and a handful of service errors as well."
Wayland got it back together in the fourth, going on an early 13-1 run then ending the match, 25-9.
"The fourth set we didn't make many mistakes," Giacomazzi said, adding, "We learned some things tonight. People had to make adjustments and find other ways to contribute. Paxton (Patterson) was struggling hitting but started tipping at the end, and we fixed our block. It was nice to see them make some adjustments."
Four Pioneers contributed double-digit kills, led by
Amber Daniel with 15 kills and a team-high. 379 hitting percentage. Patterson added 13 kills, Markic 12 (.323) and
Wendy Cobbah 11 (.304). Wayland hit .299 as a team compared to .074 for the home team.
Ariel Marquez ended with 19 digs, while Daniel had 13 and
Lucie Mahelova 11. Mahelova was credited with 45 assists.
The Pioneers recorded one solo block and 22 block-assists, with Cobbah recording seven.
Wayland improved to 11-0 in the all-time series against the Drovers.
The Pioneers next take on Mid-America Christian (18-6, 9-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Oklahoma City. WBU will be looking to avenge a 23-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-12 loss to MACU on Sept. 11 in Plainview. The Lady Evangels met Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Friday.
