PLAINVIEW, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (14-9, 3-3 SAC) took game one from Wayland Baptist University (15-5, 5-1 SAC), but the Pioneers rallied for a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-9, 25-22, 25-18).
 
The Pioneers were the consensus No. 1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll and were ranked as high as 19th nationally before suffering their first conference loss at Oklahoma City last week.  However, the Rams were hot out of the gate.
 
In game one, Abby Zipoy gave the Rams a 10-9 lead with a kill and later pushed the margin to 13-9 when she capped off a 5-0 run.  The Lady Rams were able to hold WBU at bay for the remainder of the set as they jumped ahead with a 25-22 win.
 
The Pioneers flexed their muscle in game two, posting a convincing 25-9 win.  The Lady Rams regrouped and took a 6-2 lead to begin the third set.  Texas Wesleyan continued to lead 20-17 before Wayland Baptist made a stand.  The Pioneers rattled off six consecutive points and closed the set on an 8-2 run.
 
The Rams kept things close again in the final set.  The margin was just two points at 19-17, but Wayland Baptist finished on a 6-1 run to end the match.
 
Abby Zipoy (12 kills, 22 digs), Kristina Gafford (22 assists, 10 digs), and Morgan Reese (15 assists, 10 digs) all notched double-doubles while Shelby Stinnett posted 10 kills and Shaughnessy Hearn added 18 digs.  However, the Rams offense finished with 32 hitting errors.  By comparison, WBU had just 17 hitting errors.
 
The Lady Rams will return to action on Tuesday, when the travel to Waxahachie, TX, to take on Southwestern Assemblies of God University.  That game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
 
Ramblings

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- The Rams are now 10-12 all-time against Wayland Baptist and 23-15 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.  Texas Wesleyan leads the all-time series with SAGU 23-6.
 
- The Lady Rams entered the day ranking 6th in the NAIA in both digs (1,404) and service aces (167).
 
- Kristina Gafford entered the contest ranking 11th in the nation with 745 assists, while Shaughnessy Hearn was 15th with 385 digs.