The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball closes out regular season at Buffalo and Ball State
November 12 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron volleyball team will conclude the 2014 regular season this week when it travels to Buffalo and Ball State. UA will take on its travel partner UB on Thursday before facing off against Mid-American Conference West Division opponent Ball State on Saturday.
MATCH INFORMATION
Dates: Nov. 13 & 15
Locations: Buffalo, N.Y.; Muncie, Ind.
Sites: Alumni Arena (6,100); Worthen Arena (11,500)
The Series: Akron leads Buffalo, 25-11; Akron trails Ball State, 4-30
Head Coaches: Ron Arenz (112-159 overall, 76-130 at UA); Reed Sunahara (322-163 overall, 14-14 at UB); Steve Shondell (102-50 overall and at BSU)
Akron Assistant Coaches: Jayme Plummer (Assistant Coach); Rachel Green (Assistant Coach)
Livestats: Buffalo match; Ball State match
Video stream: Buffalo match (ESPN3); Ball State 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 76-130 record leading the Zips and a 112-159 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.
ON DECK
• Akron closes out the regular season this week with road matches at Buffalo and Ball State. The Zips will challenge travel partner Buffalo on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., and the contest will be aired live on ESPN3. UA's final match is set for Saturday at Ball State, also at 7 p.m.
• Akron leads Buffalo, 25-11, in the all-time series. The Zips will be looking to avenge a three-set loss to the Bulls from earlier this season on Oct. 9 at James A. Rhodes Arena (27-25, 25-19, 25-22).
• Akron trails the all-time series with Ball State, 4-30. The two teams will be meeting for the first time this season. In 2013, Akron shocked BSU with a 3-1 victory at the JAR (25-17, 25-19, 9-25, 26-24). It was the first victory for the Zips over Ball State in exactly five years to the day, since Nov. 9, 2008.
LAST TIME OUT
• Akron fell in its final home matches last weekend, dropping two 3-1 decisions to MAC East leader Ohio and crosstown rival Kent State.
• Julie Shallman led the UA attack against Ohio, posting seven kills without a miscue for a .583 clip.
• Dragana Micic and Julia Smagacz registered nine kills apiece ending the match with nine kills apiece, while Karley Kusan put up 31 assists for the match.
• In the effort against Kent State, Brenna Mack led both teams with a career-high 17 digs. Mary Delich, in the final home match of her career, posted four solo blocks and had a hand in one block assist to supplement Akron's defensive effort.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
• Buffalo (14-14, 4-10 MAC) is 2-8 since the two teams last met earlier this year.
• UB is led by first-year head Reed Sunahara who garners a 322-163 record all-time as a collegiate head coach.
• Tahleia Bishop leads the team and is third in the MAC in kills per set, with a 3.83 average against league opponents. Marissa Prinzbach shells out 9.74 assists per set to guide the UB offense. Defensively, Buffalo ranks fifth in the conference in blocking, averaging 2.25 blocks per set as a team. Akeila Lan (94 blocks) and Amber Hatchett (73 blocks) are UB's biggest threats at the net.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
• Ball State enters its Thursday match at Toledo with a 15-12 overall record and 9-5 mark in the MAC, good for second place in the West Division. The Cardinals have won three out of their last five matches, picking up victories against Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Central Michigan.
• BSU is led by Steve Shondell, who is in his fifth season leading the Cardinals. Shondell is 102-50 as the head coach at Ball State.
• As a team, Ball State ranks third in the conference in kills per set with 13.79. Hayley Benson sits atop the league standings with a .438 hitting percentage in MAC play, averaging 3.41 k/s. Setter Jenna Spadafora is second in the conference with 11.46 assists per set. On the defensive end, Alex Fuelling and Kati Vasalakis average 3.25 and 3.19 digs per set, respectively.
