The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball hits the road for weekend matches at Kent State and Ohio
October 02 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- After splitting opening weekend of Mid-American Conference play, Akron returns to the road for a pair of East Division battles at Kent State and Ohio. The Zips will challenge their crosstown rival Golden Flashes on Friday, followed by a matchup with the defending league champion Bobcats on Saturday. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
MATCH INFORMATION
Dates: Oct. 3-4
Locations: Kent, Ohio; Athens, Ohio
Sites: M.A.C. Center (6,327); Convocation Center (13,080)
The Series: Akron trails Kent State, 34-38; Akron trails Ohio, 24-33
Head Coaches: Ron Arenz (111-148 overall, 75-119 at UA); Don Gromala (26-47 overall and at KSU); Deane Webb (378-222 overall, 9-4 at OU)
Akron Assistant Coaches: Jayme Plummer (Assistant Coach); Rachel Green (Assistant Coach)
Livestats: Kent State match; Ohio match
Video stream: Kent State match; Ohio match
ZIP LINES
• Akron is in its 41st season of collegiate volleyball. Head coach Ron Arenz is in his seventh season at the helm, holding a 75-119 record leading the Zips and a 111-148 mark all-time as a collegiate head coach.
• Akron returns 10 letterwinners including four starters from last season. Only three active players for the Zips carry more than one season of experience with the Blue and Gold, but all seven newcomers from last year return to add depth to the roster.
• In the most recent NCAA rankings summary of the year, Kelsey Wilson is first in the MAC and eighth in the nation in service aces per set with 0.55. She is 12th in the country in overall service aces with 28.
• As a team, UA is 14th in the country in service aces with 98 heading into the weekend.
ON DECK
• Akron continues MAC East play with a road trip to crosstown rival Kent State on Friday and Ohio on Saturday. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
• UA narrowly trails Kent State 34-38, in the all-time series. Friday's match will mark the first installment of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge of the season. KSU won the full point in volleyball last year, while Akron won it in 2012.
• UA trails the all-time series with Ohio, 24-33. The Zips will look to snap a seven-match losing streak to Ohio dating back to 2010.
LAST TIME OUT
• Akron snapped a five-match slide and improved its record at James A. Rhodes Arena to 5-2 this season after splitting with Miami (Ohio) (L, 3-1) and Bowling Green (W, 3-0).
• Three Zips hit for double digits against the Miami, Mary Delich (11 kills) and Kelsey Wilson and Julia Smagacz with 10 kills apiece.
• Delich tied her career-high mark with a match-high 14 kills against BGSU. The senior has hit .300 or better in her last three outings, and was named Zips' Student-Athlete of the Week.
• As a team, Akron tallied a season-high .254 clip against Bowling Green.
• The win over Bowling Green was Akron's first triumph over the Falcons since the 2010 season when the Zips won on the road in five sets.
• The Zips return to the JAR next week to host travel partner Buffalo on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. Akron will face its first West Division opponent in Toledo on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m., which will also be Alumni Night. Zips Volleyball alumni will be honored at intermission and there will be a postgame reception with the team.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
• Kent State enters the weekend with an 8-7 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the MAC. The Flashes have lost their last five-straight matches, falling to Ohio in four sets and Eastern Michigan in three on the first weekend of conference play.
• KSU is led by third-year head coach Don Gromala, who holds a 26-47 record at the school and overall for his career.
• The Kent State offense is led by Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola, who ranks second in the league in kills with 4.17 per set in conference play. Brittney Jakscht averages 8.65 assists per set overall, while Challen Geraghty guides the defense with 3.79 digs per set.
SCOUTING OHIO
• Ohio enters its Friday match with Buffalo holding a 9-4 overall record and an 2-0 mark in the conference. The Bobcats defeated Kent State and Central Michigan last weekend in four sets.
• Ohio is led by first-year head coach Deane Webb who holds a overall 378-222 record as a collegiate head coach.
• The Bobcats swept MAC East Player of the Week honors this week, as setter Abby Gilleland earned the nod on the offensive side and libero Meredith Ashy received the award for the defense. Gilleland recorded a triple-double against Kent State last weekend, and currently ranks third in the conference in assists per set with 10.20. Ashy leads the league in digs per set with 4.86 in conference action. Kelly Lamberti posts a team-high 4.14 kills per set for the season.
