Pioneers Outlast Drovers in Five-Set Thriller at WBU

PLAINVIEW, Texas – Thursday night, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (6-6, 3-4 SAC) showed tremendous fight but ultimately suffered a five-set loss at Wayland Baptist University (6-6, 5-2 SAC).

The Drovers got off to a great start to the match and held an early lead, but WBU gained momentum and tied the score at 9-9. USAO got hot and went on to win the opening set 25-21.

Wayland jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second set and went on to even the match with a 25-16 victory.

The two teams traded points in the beginning of the third set, but USAO was able to hold a slight 13-12 advantage midway through. However, WBU stormed back and claimed a 25-18 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set was once again tightly contested early on, but the Pioneers were able to hold a 13-10 lead midway through. The Drovers began to gain momentum and clawed their way to an exhilarating 26-24 victory to force a fifth set.

Wayland was able to jump out to an early lead and held an 8-4 advantage midway through the final set. The Drovers would then go on a 6-2 run to tie the score at 10-10, but the Pioneers regained control and hung on for a 15-12 victory to close the match. 

At the conclusion of the match both teams had very similar statistics. WBU concluded with 77 total points scored, while USAO finished with 74. The Drover offense closed with 60 kills on a .157 attack percentage, while the Pioneers produced 54 kills on a .156 attack percentage. The Drover defense contributed 78 digs, while the Pioneers had 81. 

Wayland gained an advantage with 13 aces and 10.0 total blocks, in comparison to USAO's five aces and 9.0 total blocks. Unforced errors also proved costly for USAO as they had 12 service errors and 13 reception errors, while WBU only had two service errors and five reception errors.

Victoria Southlerland led the Drovers offense with a season-high of 18 kills on a .208 attack percentage. Southerland also finished one dig shy of a double-double. 

Samantha Perez followed with 12 kills on a .222 attack percentage, and she also contributed three solo blocks. Gabrielle Gunnoe added 10 kills, four digs, and a block assist. 

Isaline Jacqucemyn closed with eight kills, while Giselle Calderon finished with seven kills and four block assists.

Madison Garcia finished with a season-high of 32 assists, in addition to a pair of aces, and six digs. Kalaya Prince dished out 24 assists and had seven digs on defense. 

Yaiza Larrauri contributed a match-high in digs with 24, while Andrea Maldonado concluded with a season-high of 19 digs.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to Goodwell, Okla. for a showdown at Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 1:00 PM CT on Saturday, September 23.

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