The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Zips Fall on the Road at Cleveland State, 3-1
August 30 | Women's Volleyball
Box Score (PDF)
CLEVELAND – On Tuesday night, The University of Akron volleyball team won its first set of the season but lost to Cleveland State 3-1 (18-25,15-25,25-20,13-25) at Woodling Gymnasium.
UA senior Courtney Jarvis led all players with 14 kills, while fellow senior Tina Dimitrijevs finished with eight kills and a .250 hitting percentage. At setter, Morgan Kuhn tallied 34 assists and 15 digs, while libero Chelsea Harvey added 18 digs.
On the night, the Zips (0-4) hit .135, highlighted by the third set in which they notched 16 kills and had a .302 hitting percentage. The Vikings (3-1) recorded 55 kills and a .275 hitting percentage. Each teach also made 5.0 team blocks.
"We did a better job of competing tonight against a high caliber team," said head coach Ron Arenz. "Our serve and pass game was considerably better, but we still need a few more pieces to come together. Overall, I think we are on the right track, and it will be great to play at home this weekend."
In the first set, the score was knotted at 4-4 after each team claimed several long rallies. A service ace by CSU gave the Vikings a 6-5 lead, and a fierce spike on the next point extended the lead to 7-5. After adding a solo block, CSU was up 8-5.
Kymberle Gordon and Jarvis combined for a block to make it 9-7, CSU, and a kill by Alex Wiederholt put another one on the board for Akron. The Vikings still maintained their lead, however, up 12-9 later in the set. After splitting the next four points, both teams played great defense in a long point, but Akron's attack was just wide and CSU held a 15-11 advantage.
The Zips came back to win consecutive points but still trailed 17-13. A deep attempt by Jarvis was just over the baseline, but a service error by CSU on the next point gave Akron the serve. Each time the Zips took a point, CSU would counter to preserve its lead. Late in the set, UA was down 20-17. The Vikings then took two more points and led 22-17.
A block assist by UA's freshmen combo of Mary Delich and Gordon added one for the Zips, but CSU claimed the set on the next two points, winning 25-18.
In set number two, the Zips took an early 3-2 lead after winning a long battle, causing CSU to use a timeout. After the Vikings tied it up, a block by Dimitrijevs regained Akron's lead. The teams continued to swap points, and after a thunderous kill from Jarvis, the score was level at 6-6. The Vikings then racked up three straight points for a 9-6 lead, forcing Akron to call a timeout.
The Zips responded to win the next two points before CSU recovered to own an 11-8 margin. The lead would be extended to 14-9 before a slam by Dimitrijevs put the Zips in double digits. The set began to get away, however, as Akron found itself down 17-11. Dimitrijevs tallied another kill, but back-to-back service errors stalled Akron's shot at a comeback.
With a 19-12 advantage, Cleveland State would not let the Zips back in the set, winning five of the next six points to reach set point. Kills by Jarvis and Wiederholt kept Akron alive, but a running over-the-shoulder kill by CSU's setter gave the Vikings a 2-0 lead after taking the second frame 25-15.
Alex Cocklin opened the third set with a deep kill, and an ace by Harvey gave the Zips an early 2-0 lead. Akron then took a 4-2 advantage after another kill by Cocklin, but CSU came back to take a 7-5 lead. A big swing from Jarvis scored another point for the Zips, and an attack error by CSU gave the lead back to Akron at 9-7.
After a Viking timeout, UA did not let up, winning the next two points after an ace by Kuhn. A smash by Cocklin gave Akron a 13-9 margin, and Dimitrijevs followed with a kill to the middle of the floor to extend the lead. CSU was forced to use its second timeout after Cocklin buried another one, putting the Zips ahead 15-9.
Back-to-back kills by Dimitrijevs and Jarvis opened up an 18-11 advantage, and a CSU error put yet another point on the board for UA. The Vikings tried to fight back, but Akron was able to answer each charge. After a tremendous point by both sides, the Zips held a 21-15 lead. Again CSU tried to apply pressure, coming back to make it 23-18, but an attack error by the Vikings gave the Zips set point. Dimitrijevs put it away a few points later with a high-flying kill, ending the third set at 25-20.
In the fourth set, the Zips again got off to an early lead, but CSU came back to even the score at 3-3. A service ace by the Vikings then put them up 5-3, causing Akron to call a timeout. The Vikings reeled off three straight points to widen the gap to 8-5, but a service error put one on the board for Akron.
The set quickly got away from the Zips, as they trailed 12-5 before a smash by Twitty tallied another point. Two points later, CSU ended a long rally with a kill to the right sideline to stay ahead, 13-6. After dropping three of the next four, the Zips tried to claw back in it, making it 18-10 after a monster kill by Dimitrijevs. Jarvis recorded another kill from the left side, but ultimately the margin would prove to be too great. Cleveland State would go on to win the set, 25-13, and the match.
The Zips will return to the floor on Friday, Sept. 2 as they play host to the Akron Invitational at James A. Rhodes Arena. UA will be in action at noon and 7 p.m. ET on the opening day.
