The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball Begins Busy Week at Home on Wednesday
October 09 | Women's Volleyball
The University of Akron volleyball team will begin a busy week
with a home match against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort
Wayne (IPFW) Wednesday night at Rhodes Arena before heading to Kent
State Friday night and down to Ohio University Saturday. All three
matches will begin at 7 p.m.
Akron vs. IPFW (15-9)
All-Time Series Record: 1-0; Last Meeting: W, 3-1 on Sept. 20,
2003
The Mastodons have recorded 20+ wins in each of the past three
seasons and are on their way in 2006. IPFW has won nine of its last
10 matches after starting the season with four consecutive defeats.
They are out-hitting opponents .209 to .172 on the year and have
defeated their opponents in straight sets nine times.
Statistically, they are led by Cynara Martins (258 kills;
3.15/game), Jessica Dominiak (830 assists; 9.76/game), Clair
Jackson (99 blocks - 35 solo; 1.21/game) and Peachy Jankowski (500
digs; 5.75.game). The Mastodons are coached by Kelley Hartley
Hutton, who is in her 8th season at the helm.
Akron vs. Kent State (11-7, 4-2 MAC)
All-Time Series Record: 28-29; Last 5 meetings: 4-1
After dropping their MAC opener at Akron on Sept. 21, the Golden
Flashes have been hot with four wins in their last five conference
matches, including three straight victories. All four MAC wins
(against Buffalo, Central Michigan Toledo and Ball State) have been
in straight sets. Statistically, Kent State is ranked in the middle
of the pack in many conference categories, including hitting
percentage (.214/6th), kills per game (.15.03/6th), blocks per game
(2.24/6th) and digs per game (17.71/5th). Kent State is coached by
Mora Kanim, who is in her 10th season at the helm.
Akron vs. Ohio University (14-3, 6-0 MAC)
All-Time Series Record: 23-19; Last 5 meetings: 1-4
The Bobcats enter the week having won seventh straight matches,
including straight-set victories at Toledo and at Ball State last
weekend to improve to 6-0 in the MAC. As a team, Ohio leads the
conference in assists per game (15.61) and kills per game (17.05),
and is second in hitting percentage (.280) and opponent hitting
percentage (.146). Ohio is coached by Geoff Carlston, who is in his
5th season at the helm.
Fox Finding Groove
Sophomore
Brittany Fox (Toledo,
Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) has made the most of her opportunities
recently with a career-high seven kills at Miami (OH) last Thursday
and six more at Bowling Green the following night. Her total of 13
kills in her last two matches are nearly half of her season total
of 28 kills in 11 contests heading into last week.
Fekpe Finding Time
Right side hitter Jennifer Fekpe (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard
Davidson) earned some playing time last week as the freshman played
in all three games against Miami (OH) and Bowling Green. Fekpe
picked up a pair of kills against the Falcons and recorded the
first assist and block assist of her young Zips career against the
RedHawks.
Lending a Hand
Sophomore
Abby Varterasian
(Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti), who's been utilized as primarily a
defensive player this season, made some major contributions to the
offensive side of the game last week. Varterasian notched 17
assists at Miami (OH) and added 14 more against Bowling Green for
her highest totals since posting 27 in the first match of the
season against Indiana on August 25. She had recorded just five in
the time between then and last week. Varterasian is second on the
team with 44 blocks (14 solos),
Zips Bits...
Freshman
Brionna Patterson
(Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) matched a season-high with three service
aces at Miami (OH)... Freshman
Megan Rodriguez (Sagamore
Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) matched a season high with 20 digs
against the RedHawks.
