The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball Concludes MAC Season With 3-0 Loss To Bulls
November 17 | Women's Volleyball
Akron, Ohio - The No. 7 seeded University of Akron volleyball team wrapped up the Mid-American Conference season Tuesday evening falling in three sets (25-27, 17-25, 23-25) to the No. 10 Buffalo Bulls in the first round of the MAC Tournament at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Hosting its first match of the league tournament since the 2003 season, Akron would fight but forced errors from the Bulls would wrap up the Zips conference season as UA was held to a .126 hitting percentage.
Back and forth throughout the first set, Akron had the advantage at the 24-22 mark but two UB kills would tie it up (24-24). The Zips would rebound with a kill from senior Jackie Goleman for the 25-24 advantage but Buffalo would force three Akron errors to win 27-25.
In the second set, the Zips found themselves down 1-7 but would keep fighting to go up one at the 13-12 mark. However, Buffalo would go on to force five attack errors within a seven point run to gain a 19-13 lead before pushing on for the 25-17 set win.
The final set on the floor of the JAR this season was much like the second with the Zips finding themselves down 12-6 but continuing to fight tying it at the 15 point. Back and forth, Buffalo would gain a three point advantage at 22-19 but a determined Zips squad came within one at 23-22 to force a Buffalo timeout. Out of the break, a service ace from freshman Alex Cocklin would tie the set up (23-23) but a kill from Buffalo and UA error would push the Bulls onto the second round of the tournament.
Juniors Tina Dimitrijevs and Courtney Jarvis led the Zips offensively with nine kills apiece. Dimitrijevs also added four block assists while Jarvis dug 12 balls. Sophomore Chelsea Harvey was the defensive leader with 14 digs.
Despite the loss, Akron still has a tournament remaining, which is slated for Nov. 26-27 when the Zips will travel out west to play in the Mizuno Thanksgiving Tournament facing Seattle, Long Beach State and UC-Irvine.
