DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- The Wayland Baptist volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season Thursday night in the opening match of the Embry-Riddle Labor Day Tournament. The Pioneers fell to Embry-Riddle in four sets, 25-17, 25-14, 20-25, 27-25.

The Lady Eagles dominated the first two sets, but Wayland found its rhythm in the third set. After Jennifer Wyatt and Anika Voigt combined for a block to tie the score at five, the Pioneers took control, eventually widening the lead to six on a kill by Tatiana Gonzalez.

ERAU narrowed the gap to 20-17, but two kills by Desiree Luevano sandwiched around a Gonzalez slam made it 23-17 and put the set out of reach.

In the fourth set, the host team scored six straight points to pull ahead 10-5. The Pioneers managed to stay within striking range, finally grabbing a 19-18 lead on a Wyatt kill.

The set went back-and-forth from that point, although Wayland did hold a two-point advantage two different times. An attack error by ERAU gave the Pioneers set point at 24-23, but a service error, one of six in the match for WBU, tied it at 24.

The Lady Eagles responded with a service error of their own, but back-to-back kills by Taylor Martin and an attack error by the Pioneers gave ERAU the set and the match.

Although WBU coach Jim Giacomazzi was disappointed in the way his team came out against Embry-Riddle, who received votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, he was pleased with their never-say-die attitude.

"We fought hard and came back. I liked that we didn't give up. That is a good team and I'm sure they will move into the Top25 once the poll comes out next week.

"We've been working hard with our play at the net, and I was pleased with how we responded with 8.5 blocks, but the service errors just killed us tonight. Hopefully we can eliminate those mistakes tomorrow."

Luevano led the Pioneers with 13 kills and two block assists against Embry-Riddle. Kate Trejos was the defensive leader with 18 digs. The junior also had three block assists and nine kills. Anika Voigt handed out 32 assists, was credited with 17 digs, and helped out with three block assists.

Gonzalez posted six kills, 11 digs and four block assists, while Wyatt finished the match with eight kills and four block assists.

Abby Hall and Martin paced the Lady Eagles with 25 and 19 kills respectively.

The Pioneers return to action on Friday with a match against #15 Lewis & Clark State University at 10:30 a.m.