Oklahoma City – Despite a double-double by
Selma Sutaj, the Wayland Baptist volleyball fell to Mid-America Christian in a 5-set thriller 3-2 at the Gaulke Activity Center in Oklahoma City Friday evening.
The first set of the match went back and forth between the two squads as the Pioneers grabbed a 14-13 lead before the Evangels scored 12 of the last 18 points to claim the first set 25-19.
The Pioneers stormed back in the second set as they grabbed an early 6-1 advantage before Mid-America Christian cut the deficit to 6-4. Neither team could distance themselves as Wayland was able to get a service ace from Sutaj to take the lead 23-22 and then the Pioneers scored the final two points of the set as
Gabreya Garcia and
Carlee Heidebrecht each came away with kills to help Wayland win the set 25-22 and even the match at 1-1.
The momentum continued for the Pioneers in the third set as Wayland raced out to a 12-1 lead and never looked back as they took a 2-1 advantage in the match with a 25-11 third-set victory.
The Evangels gained control in the fourth set with a 10-0 run after the Pioneers held a 10-7 advantage to make the score 17-10 as Mid-America Christian was able to hold on to force a fifth set with a 25-17 win.
Neither team could get a clear advantage in the fifth set as the teams tied three times in the early stages but a 6-1 run for the Evangels gave them an 11-6 en route to a 15-10 win to claim the match.
Stat Leaders:
Kills – Sutaj – 15
Aces – Sutaj and
Brenna Daniel – 3
Blocks –
Fade Ogunbade – 7
Assists –
Valentina Bozzato – 35
Digs – Daniel – 26
Records:
Wayland Baptist – 11-12, 9-8 SAC
Mid-America Christian – 16-10, 12-5 SAC
Up Next – The Pioneers travel to Chickasha, Okla., to take on Science & Arts Saturday afternoon. The start time is set for 1 p.m.
