In her first WJCAC match and home opener as the Odessa College volleyball head coach, Kristi Gray didn't use any timeouts.

The No. 19-ranked Lady Wranglers never gave her a reason.

Odessa College didn't trail in three sets en route to a sweep against Frank Phillips College 25-12, 25-16, 25-16 Wednesday at the OC Sports Center.

"I trust them to get the job done and they did that tonight," said Gray, who took over the head coaching duties in May. "They played well."

Chandler Lippincott — a sophomore middle blocker from Phoenix — said the team was waiting to face the Lady Plainsmen again.

Frank Phillips College defeated Odessa College in the WJCAC championship a year ago.

"We lost to them in the championship last year, so we kind of had bad blood with them," Lippincott said. "It felt really good to come out with a win."

Amanda Rister — the head coach of the Lady Plainsmen — knew Odessa College had been waiting since last November for a rematch. Rister said her young roster, which features three sophomores and nine freshmen, have to learn how to play in WJCAC matches.

"They have a good chance of learning how to play WJCAC volleyball, but it maybe up until the regional tournament when we finally figure out what college volleyball is all about," Rister said.

The Lady Wranglers (7-2 overall, 1-0 WJCAC) settled in quickly.

Odessa College grabbed a 16-5 lead, but Frank Phillips College attempted a brief rally. The Lady Plainsmen (5-5, 0-1) went a five-point run, but it was quickly squandered as the Lady Wranglers went a 9-2 run to close out the first set on an ace from Lippincott. The sophomore middle blocker ended with six kills, four blocks and two aces.

That trend of not letting the opponents string rallies continued throughout the final two sets. The Lady Wranglers took a 13-7 lead in the second set and continued to apply pressure to win 12 of the next 21 points. Anna Rupertova, who finished with six kills, one block and one ace, knocked down back-to-back kills to secure a two-set lead.

In the final set, Gabriela Cruz Santos supplied a block as Frank Phillips College tied the set 5-5, but that was as close as the Lady Plainsmen would come to taking a lead.

Odessa College and Frank Phillips College traded minor runs, until Alison Fuata knocked down four straight kills for the Lady Wranglers. Fuata supplied a team-high 11 kills and nine digs. Makenzie Rainone posted the match-winning kill as Odessa College closed an three-point run.

"This game we might have played a tad nervous, because it was our first conference game, but we are just going to get better and better from here," Lippincott said.

The Lady Wranglers ended with 12 aces as Halley McKnight supplied a team-high five. She also had 14 assists, while Raevyn Kaupu dished out 22 assists and two aces.

Odessa College continues its season hosting the Odessa College Tournament beginning with Pratt Community College at 3 p.m. Saturday.

"Right now, we are OK," Gray said. "I know that we have a lot of room to improve, but I'm excited to see where this team is in the next month or so."

Article by Royal McGregor