Pioneers Sweep Rams on the Road, Earn Massive Victory Ahead of Final Regular Season Match

Box Score FORT WORTH --- Wayland Baptist volleyball turned in one of its most impressive performances of the season Friday night, sweeping SAC-leading Texas Wesleyan in straight sets (25-20, 28-26, 25-23) at the Sid Richardson Center.
 
The Pioneers (15-10, 14-7 SAC) silenced a packed Fort Worth crowd with their balanced attack and relentless defense, earning their fourth straight win and their third sweep in the last four matches. The victory marked a signature moment for Wayland, as the team is looking to host the opening round of the 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Championships.
 
Fade Ogunbade led the charge for the Pioneers with 13 kills on an outstanding .478 hitting percentage, while Emma Scott added eight kills at a .571 clip. Setter Martyna Lewinska ran a sharp offense, dishing out 33 assists and chipping in two aces and seven digs.
 
Wayland out-hit Texas Wesleyan .180 to .145 and used timely defense to frustrate the Rams' hitters. Deniz Yileri and Carlee Heidebrecht anchored the Pioneer defense with 14 and 12 digs, respectively, while libero Rachel Russell collected a team-high 11. The Pioneers tallied 50 digs overall and added five service aces to keep the Rams off balance.
 
After taking the opening set 25-20, Wayland rallied from a late deficit in the second, fending off multiple set points to steal it 28-26. The third was another tight battle, but key swings from Ogunbade and Scott sealed the deal for the straight-set sweep.
 
With the win, Wayland Baptist improves to 14-7 in conference play, which places them in a tie for 3^rd place in the SAC with Mid-America Christian.
 
The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Saturday as they travel to Waxahachie for another tough road match against the Lions of Nelson University. The final match of the regular season will begin at 1:00 PM.