Parkville – The Pioneer Volleyball squad opened their 2024 campaign on the road in the Park Invitational where they squared off against 8
th ranked Park University (MO), ultimately falling short 3-1 in a 4-set battle – 17-25,20-25, 25-18, 22-25.
Wayland Baptist showed a lot of fight in their season opener, considering they were tasked with a tough road matchup against a Top 10 team and serious national championship contender in Park. It was a competitive matchup that saw the Pioneers stay within striking distance of the Pirates, but Park was able to fend off the Pioneer pressure.
Junior
Fade Ogunbade led the Pioneers with 14 kills. Senior
Selma Sutaj accounted for nine kills and 10 digs. Sophomore
Klaudia Brzeczkowska displayed a solid effort with five blocks, four kills, and a .308 hitting percentage.
"I'm very pleased with the way we played. After losing sets one and two, we learned from what mistakes we were making and fought to win set three," said Wayland Baptist Head Coach
Jim Giacomazzi. "We were able to take a set on the road against a tough team that has won multiple national championships in the past."
The Pioneers 2024 squad features a solid mix of young talent plus veterans with proven success, and Coach Giacomazzi mentioned the importance of leadership from his veterans. "After a week of practicing hard, things are beginning to click with us. We're starting to see some leadership from the upperclassmen," said Coach Giacomazzi.
The Pioneers will wrap up the 2024 Park Invitational with two games Saturday, August 24
th. First, the Pioneers will take on the Eagles of Cornerstone University (Mich) at 10:00 a.m. The Pioneers will follow that up with a matchup against
RV Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) at 2:00 p.m.
