GLENDALE, Ariz. – Wayland Baptist jumped out to a 2-0 lead but couldn't close out Arizona Christian as the Firestorm rallied to defeat the Pioneers in non-conference volleyball action here Saturday afternoon, 23-25, 24-26, 25-13, 25-20, 15-8.
It was the second five-set loss for Wayland (14-6) in less than 24 hours. The Pioneers fell to Ottawa (Ariz.) on Friday, 25-17, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10.
Against the Firestorm (6-8), the Pioneers pulled out victories in both very tight sets to start the match.
In the opener, Wayland trailed 21-20 but ran off four straight points to move to set point, 24-21. ACU scored back-to-back points before a service error gave it to Wayland.
The second set was even closer with WBU unable to close out one set point as ACU tied it at 24. But Pioneer Tatiana Markic put down back-to-back kills to win it and gave Wayland a 2-0 lead.
The Firestorm came out on fire in the third, running off eight straight points. Wayland closed to within two, 9-7, before ACU went on another big run, 8-1, to pull away again.
The fourth set was close until the Firestorm, with the score tied at 17, went on a 6-0 run. Wayland called two timeouts to try to stop it, but to no avail.
The Pioneers held the early upper-hand in the fifth, 4-1, but another 8-1 ACU run gave the Firestorm all the momentum. WBU suffered a number of unforced errors during the run. The mistakes continued right up to the end with back-to-back attack errors by WBU giving ACU the final two points of the match.
Markic finished with 14 kills and
Kellie Kozak and
Paxton Patterson nine each to lead Wayland, which hit .131. The Pioneers finished with 24 attack errors, 13 reception errors and 10 service miscues.
Amber Daniel finished with 22 digs,
Shykerra Fanner 13 and
Ariel Marquez 11. Kozak and
Jayla Schultz logged four block-assists each while
Alexa Hinojos had three. Patterson notched three aces and Daniel two.
Elizabeth Wirth provided 21 assists and Mahelova 18.
"We worked hard against two solid teams on this trip. I like the improvements we have made these last three weeks. I believe these last two matches will be very helpful as we play our last two conference matches and as we prepare for post-season play," WBU coach
Jim Giacomazzi said.
"We do need to focus some more work on our serve-receive and serving. Our hitting is getting better, but there is still room for improvement. Our outsides did better than our middles this weekend, but that varies with our ball control."
Wayland returns home to Sooner Athletic Conference play and to close out the regular-season with three matches at Hutcherson Center next weekend, first against Southwestern Christian (3-12, 2-6 SAC) at 7 p.m. Friday then on Saturday against No. 19, league-leading Oklahoma City (8-2, 8-0) at 11 a.m. and Our Lady of the Lake at 3:30 p.m.
