The University of Akron Athletics
Northern Illinois Powers Past Zips in 3-0 Win
October 19 | Women's Volleyball
-The University of Akron volleyball team put up one of its
hardest fights of the season but it wasn't enough as the Northern
Illinois Huskies powered past the Zips in three sets (21-25, 25-27,
24-26) Saturday night at Victor E. Court.
Akron took the early 4-2 lead over Northern Illinois, and up until
the 13-11 point, it would be a close fight with neither team
leading by more than two. Down by three (19-16), the Zips came back
within one (19-18) but a 4-0 run after a NIU timeout put the
Huskies up 22-18. Junior Brionna Patterson (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky)
would be the Zips only offense the remainder of the set as she
posted two kills but UA would fall 21-25.
Akron would take the lead (6-3) once again in set two but the
Huskies would go on a 7-0 run to gain the four-point advantage
(6-10). Akron came within one at the 15-14 mark off a kill by
sophomore Jess Antosz (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area) but were
unable to capitalize on the run.
At the 22-20 mark, a hard fought battle would ensue and was won by
Akron off a kill by Antosz. The kill would spur a Zips run to put
them up for the first time since the 6-3 mark of the match with
junior Liz Martin (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) recording two
consecutive kills to put UA up 23-22.
After a NIU timeout, the Huskies would come out posting a kill to
tie it back up but another Martin kill kept the Zips up by one
(24-23). A Akron service error would tie it again, 24-24, and a
kill by Patterson, her 11th of the match, would give UA the
one-point lead (25-24). However, NIU proved too tough and would put
up a kill and force two Akron attack errors to take the frame
27-25.
Following the same fashion as the first two sets, Akron posted the
first points of the third set going up 3-0, but the Huskies would
build the largest lead of the night going up 16-9. Akron would keep
pushing forward coming within one at the 23-22 mark. A NIU kill
would keep the Huskies up two but a kill by freshman Courtney
Jarvis (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele) put them back within
one.
A double block by freshman Tina
Dimitrijevs (Broadview Heights, Ohio/North Royalton) and junior
setter Kara Smith (Secor, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) tied the
game at 24, however, that was the Zips last point of the night, as
they couldn't stop NIU as they posted two kills to win the match
26-24.
On the night, Patterson posted a team high 12 kills followed by
Antosz with 10 (.381),who tied her season-high (NJIT, Sept. 20).
Antosz also added four digs, a service ace and a block assist.
Defensively, Akron out dug the Huskies, 62-48, led by the
ever-consistent senior libero Jennifer
Stewart (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) who posted 15
kills.
Smith put up 39 assists adding 12 digs; a season high, with two
block assists and kills alike.
Seeing the most action yet this season was freshman Laura
McDonnell (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) who saw quality
minutes putting up nine digs and two assists.
The Zips will begin a five game home stand next weekend beginning
with a match on Friday against Eastern Michigan at 7:00 p.m.
