The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball prepped for final homestand against Ohio and Kent State
November 06 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron volleyball team is set for its final homestand of the 2014 season this weekend when it hosts Mid-American Conference leader Ohio and crosstown rival Kent State. The Zips will be looking to avenge a pair of losses to the two East Division teams suffered on the road earlier in the season that began conference play.
MATCH INFORMATION
Dates: Nov. 7-8
Location: Akron, Ohio
Site: James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
The Series: Akron trails Ohio, 24-34; Akron trails Kent State, 34-39
Head Coaches: Ron Arenz (112-157 overall, 76-128 at UA); Deane Webb (388-222 overall, 19-4 at OU); Don Gromala (31-52 overall and at KSU)
Akron Assistant Coaches: Jayme Plummer (Assistant Coach); Rachel Green (Assistant Coach)
Livestats: Ohio match; Kent State match
Video stream: Ohio match; Kent 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 76-128 record leading the Zips and a 112-157 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 13th in the nation in service aces per set with 0.47. She is 70th in the country in overall service aces with 32.
• As a team, UA ranks third in the conference in team service aces (131) and aces per set (1.42).
ON DECK
• Akron embarks on its final homestand of the 2014 season this weekend when it welcomes Ohio and Kent State to the JAR. The Zips will take on the league-leading Bobcats on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by the second round of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge against rival Kent State on Saturday at 5 p.m.
• The Zips' lone senior, Mary Delich, will be honored after the final home match of her career on Saturday.
• Akron trails the all-time series with Ohio, 24-34. The Zips fell to the Bobcats in three sets on the road on Oct. 4 (25-14, 25-13, 25-10).
• UA narrowly trails Kent State in the all-time series, 34-39. The Flashes won the first meeting between the two teams this season at the M.A.C. Center, 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22).
LAST TIME OUT
• Akron began its second time through the MAC East Division last weekend, dropping a pair of road matches at Miami and Bowling Green.
• Julia Smagacz posted a team-high nine kills against the Falcons, followed by Anna Wenger with eight.
• Wenger registered a .318 clip and only surrendered one miscue on the night.
• Four Zips hit for double figures against Miami, led by Mary Delich with 11 kills and a team-high .292 hitting percentage.
• Julie Shallman and Smagacz followed suit adding 10 kills apiece.
• The Zips wrap up the 2014 campaign next week on the road. UA travels to Buffalo on Thursday, Nov. 13 for a 7 p.m. match, before playing its final match of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 15 at West Division power Ball State (7 p.m.).
SCOUTING OHIO
• Ohio is unbeaten in MAC play this season (12-0) and boasts a 19-4 overall record.
• The Bobcats are led by first-year head coach Deane Webb who holds an overall record of 388-222 as a collegiate head coach.
• Ohio leads the league in opponent hitting percentage, holding opposing teams to a .156 clip. On the flip side, the Bobcats are also the MAC's top performers offensively, posting 13.94 kills per set as a team. Meredith Ashy is first in the conference with 4.93 digs per set, helping Ohio average a MAC-best 16.73 digs per frame as a unit. Ohio's top offensive weapons are Kelly Lamberti (4.07 k/s) and Abby Gilleland (10.48 a/s).
SCOUTING KENT STATE
• Kent State enters its Friday match at Buffalo with a 13-12 overall record and 5-7 mark in the MAC, sitting in third place in the East Division. The Flashes are an even 5-5 since they last met the Zips, splitting a pair of matches to Ohio (L, 3-1) and Central Michigan (W, 3-2) last weekend.
• KSU is led by third-year head coach Don Gromala, who holds a 31-52 record at the school and overall for his career.
• Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola and Kelsey Bittinger guide the KSU offense with 3.09 and 2.39 kills per set, respectively. Defensively, Challen Geraghty posts 4.26 digs per set, while Liz Reikow is tied for the MAC's top spot in blocking, averaging 1.16 per set.
