The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball to Wrap Up West in Road Swing
October 16 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron
volleyball team will conclude its MAC West Division regular-season
schedule this weekend when it travels to Central Michigan Friday
and Eastern Michigan Saturday.
TEAM NOTES
• For the month of October, the volleyball teams from Akron
and local rival Kent State University will be competing for a
greater cause with the Susan G. Komen Dig for the Cure fundraiser.
The two programs have each agreed to donate money based on the
total number of digs recorded during the month to the worthy
organization in an effort to fight breast cancer. To date, the Zips
have totaled 184 digs in four matches. For more information or to
make a pledge, contact assistant volleyball coach Jenn
Snyder at 330.972.7435 or via email at jenn107@uakron.edu.
• This weekend marks the start of the final road swing of the
regular season. The Zips will play at CMU and EMU this weekend and
at Ohio and Kent State next weekend before closing out the regular
season at Rhodes Arena with its final four matches. Akron will host
Buffalo and Ball State from Nov. 2-3 and Miami and Bowling Green
from Nov. 9-10.
• The Zips are ranked 69th in the nation with an average of
17.4 digs per game.
• UA is also ranked fourth in the league with 2.36 blocks per
contest.
PLAYER NOTES
• Libero Megan Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh
Jesuit) has filled in admirably for injured starter Jennifer
Stewart (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) since assuming that
role on Sept. 27. Since that time, Rodriguez has posted 108 digs in
20 games (5.40/contest). Last season, the sophomore led the Zips
with 372 digs in just 99 games. It was the second-most recorded by
a freshman in nine seasons.
• True freshman Jess Antosz (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area)
leads the league with 1.16 blocks per game following six rejections
in as many contests last weekend. Antosz posted three blocks,
including one solo, against Northern Illinois and three more,
including two solo, against Western Michigan.
• Moreover, Antosz continues to establish herself as one of
the more efficient offensive options in the league. Her .287
hitting percentage is tops on the team and ninth in the MAC.
Against the Huskies last Friday, the middle blocker recorded nine
kills and two errors in 22 attacks for a fine .318 mark.
• Sophomore Brionna Patterson (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) has
reached double figures for kills in each of her last four matches
and in four of her last five. The outside hitter recorded
team-highs of 10 kills against Northern Illinois and 12 kills
against Western Michigan last weekend. Overall, Patterson leads the
Zips with 277 kills and is currently ranked seventh in the MAC with
an average of 3.74 per game.
• Sophomore setter Kara Smith (Secor, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) is
eighth in the conference with 9.99 assists per game.
OPPONENTS AT A
GLANCE
The following is a quick look at the Zips'
competition this weekend. Akron will face Central Michigan Friday
night at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan Saturday at
7p.m.
Central Michigan
All-Time Series: 11-11 since 1992
Conference: Mid-American
2007 Record: 13-8, 3-5 MAC
Notes: Dropped their last two conference matches at
Bowling Green (1-3) and at Miami (2-3) last weekend ... ranked
second in the nation with 2.67 service aces per game ... Kate
Fissel ranks 37th in the country with 0.57 aces per contest ...
Fissel is also ranked 26th nationally with 4.75 kills per game ...
CMU is also ranked second in the MAC with an opponent hitting
percentage of .166.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
All-Time Series: 15-10 since 1983
Conference: Mid-American
2007 Record: 13-10, 3-5 MAC
Notes: Have lost their last three league matches, at
Bowling Green (2-3), at Miami (1-3) and against Ohio (0-3) ...
ranked 29th nationally (second in MAC) as a team with 18.44 digs
per game ... senior setter Kate Sulewski is EMU's all-time assists
leader and ranks sixth in MAC history with 4,987 sets.
