The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball Sweeps Rival Kent State for First MAC Win
October 08 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio – In front of a large Homecoming crowd, The University of Akron volleyball team defeated rival Kent State 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-23) for its first Mid-American Conference win of the season.
With the win, the Zips (4-15, 1-5) take an early lead in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge, earning half of a point for Akron in the competition between the rival schools. The teams will meet again at Kent State on Nov. 11 for the conclusion of the season series, where UA will go for a second consecutive season sweep and the other half point for the Challenge.
Each of 15 varsity sports included in the competition will be worth one point. For a school to be the winner of the challenge, it must accumulate at least eight points. The point is awarded to the team that wins the season series in the head-to-head competition. Since the teams meet twice in the regular season for volleyball, each win is worth a one-half point.
Senior Courtney Jarvis led the Zips with 13 kills on 25 attempts and made just three errors for a .400 hitting percentage. Freshman Kymberle Gordon added 10 kills on 16 attempts with only two errors to hit .500 for the night. Alex Wiederholt also had a solid performance, recording seven kills and three block assists. Junior Paiton Twitty anchored the Zips at the net, notching nine total blocks and four kills.
The Golden Flashes (8-13, 1-5) had a tough night, hitting -.010 as a team on 24 kills, 25 errors and 99 attempts. Akron finished with a .297 hitting percentage on 40 kills, 13 errors and 91 attempts. The Zips also controlled play at the net, making 10.0 total blocks to KSU's 2.0.
The Zips dominated the first two sets, but Kent State came out of the intermission and took an early lead in the third. Akron responded to tie it up at 14 all, but Kent again took the edge with a 21-17 advantage. After a timeout, UA answered by winning three consecutive points to trail by only one. Kent would again go up 23-21, but the Zips came back to even the score at 23 after two Kent errors. Gordon then took over and notched two decisive kills that put the match away for Akron.
The Zips continue their homestand next weekend against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Akron will face NIU Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at the JAR, followed by a 5 p.m. contest against WMU on Saturday, Oct. 15, that will feature UA's annual Dig for a Cure fundraiser.
