The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball Posts Two Impressive Wins at Magnolia Classic
September 05 | Women's Volleyball
University, Miss. - The University of Akron volleyball team (5-1) posted two impressive wins at the Magnolia Classic Friday beating Horizon League powerhouse the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Both valuable wins, the Zips first match win against UWM set the tone for the day as UA took the six consecutive time Horizon League champions to five sets (22-25, 25-23. 21-25, 25-22, 15-9) in the morning session.
The second match against UAB, also a 3-2 win (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-12), proved stronger offensively as the Zips landed four players in double-figure kills and two in double-figure digs.
Both matches were guided by senior Liz Martin who finished both with a double-double. Against UWM, Martin posted 11 kills and 10 digs while posting 15 kills and 11 digs against the UAB Blazers. Martin also added five service aces, three assists and one block assist on the day.
To begin the day, UA started out down in the first three sets against the UWM Panthers. Falling in the first, 22-25, Akron came back from a 10-4 deficit in the second set tying it at the 13-13 mark. Both teams would go point for point until the 18-16 point when UWM gained the two-point advantage. The Zips wouldn't take their first lead until the 21-20 mark off a block from junior Jackie Goleman and senior Brionna Patterson. The Panthers would tie it at 22 but another Goleman and Patterson block put UA back on top and two consecutive kills by both gave UA the victory.
The Zips couldn't keep the comeback strong in the third set as they were held to a .061 hitting percentage. Down 6-2, UA went on a 4-0 run to take the 15-11 lead but UWM came back to tie at the 16 mark. Battling point for point, UWM went on a run for the 25-22 victory.
Akron started out set four differently as they took the lead to
start the contest. Maintaining throughout, UA found their stride
with a Patterson service ace bringing them to match point at the
24-20 mark. A kill by senior setter Kara Smith secured the
victory.
In the fifth and final set, Akron shut down UWM taking a quick 5-1
lead posting their largest lead at the 11-4 mark. Posting a stellar
.333 hitting percentage, UA claimed the set 15-9 while holding the
Panthers to a .091 hitting percentage.
In the match, Patterson posted a team-high 16 kills while senior Megan Rodriguez led UA defensively with 13 digs.
Facing UAM for the first time ever, UA was in position for the win in the fourth set after claiming sets one and three. Facing a determined Blazer squad, UAM held the Zips to a -.065 percentage while pounding out a .500 for the 25-15 win.
Falling behind 6-1 to begin the fifth set, UA would start their comeback with three consecutive kills (6-4). Evidently getting stronger as the set went on, UA didn't tie the contest until the 10-10 mark and would take the lead off two Patterson kills (12-10). A service ace from Martin put them up 13-10 and a Goleman and Patterson block put UA within match point which came off a UAB attack error.
For the fifth time this year and in all of UA's wins, Patterson led UA offensively posting 20 against UAB.
The Zips will wrap up the Magnolia Classic Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. contest against tournament host Ole Miss. Live stats will be available here.
