Trap game? Not exactly.
The No. 10-ranked Odessa College volleyball team didn’t have much to worry about in its Western Junior College Athletic conference game against Frank Phillips College, defeating the Lady Plainsmen in straight sets Wednesday at the OC Sports Center.
Both teams entered the contest with the same record in conference play.
However, it didn’t take long to find out who was the better side as Odessa College ended up winning by scores of 25-6, 25-14, 25-14, improving to 16-6 overall and 4-1 in conference.
The Lady Plainsmen (who were coming off consecutive victories against Western Texas College, Clarendon College and Midland College) fell to 8-14, 3-2.
The Lady Wranglers were coming off a four-set victory against New Mexico Junior College from Saturday in Hobbs, N.M.
“I feel like any team in this conference, we have to respect and know that everyone is pretty good,” Odessa College head coach Dayana Acevedo-Rios said. “Us and Frank Phillips were fighting for that second-place spot in the conference. Taking care of business was definitely our plan and our girls took care of everything.”
Odessa College didn’t have any trouble in the first set, cruising to a 25-6 win and making it look all too easy at times.
“I feel like the girls were feeding off each other and the crowd was amazing too,” Acevedo-Rios said. “Playing at home, there was a lot of energy and our girls took care of business. Frank Phillips College responded in the second set but we stayed focused and stuck to our plan.”
The Lady Plainsmen kept things a little bit closer early in the second set, trailing only 9-7.
However, the Lady Wranglers used a 10-2 run to build a comfortable 19-9 lead.
A kill by Zuzanna Zietek of the Lady Plainsmen made it 19-10 soon after.
A kill by Odessa College’s Hanna Nemeth then made it a 10-point set on the following play.
A block by Odessa College’s Milica Peci then made it 24-13 and the Lady Wranglers soon closed out the set with a 25-14 win on a kill by Lauren Dale.
Odessa College took an 11-6 lead early in the third set.
An error by the Lady Plainsmen made it 12-6 on the following play.
A 4-1 run by the Lady Wranglers kept them in control.
A kill by Dale made it 21-10.
Odessa College used a 4-4 run to close out the game.
“I feel like Odessa College is a strong team,” Frank Phillips College head coach McKeenna Clement said. “I felt like we didn’t come out ready but both teams are competitive and we’ll see how we do down the road.”
The Lady Wranglers will next face Clarendon College at 2 p.m. Saturday on the road.
“We’re taking it one game at a time,” Acevedo-Rios said. “We’ll start looking at Clarendon College. They have a better team than what they’ve had in the past so it’s definitely going to be a matter of us taking care of business.”
Frank Phillips College will be back at home in its next game against Amarillo College at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Odessa College and Frank Phillips College will next face each other at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 in Borger.
