The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball kicks off home slate with Akron Invitational this weekend
September 04 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- Akron volleyball is set to host its own non-conference tournament for the 20th season in its 41-year history this weekend, welcoming Bryant, Binghamton, Drake and Austin Peay to James A. Rhodes Arena for the Akron Invitational. The Zips will take on Bryant in their home opener at 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday, followed by an 8 p.m. clash with Binghamton. Tournament play will conclude for Akron with a doubleheader Saturday against Drake (3 p.m.) and Austin Peay (8 p.m.).
MATCH INFORMATION
Dates: Sept. 5-6
Location: Akron, Ohio
Site: James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
The Series: Akron leads Bryant, 1-0; Akron trails Binghamton, 1-2; First meeting with Drake; Akron leads Austin Peay, 7-1
Head Coaches: Ron Arenz (106-140 overall, 70-111 at UA); Theresa Garlacy (426-266 overall and at Bryant); Glenn Kiriyama (232-233 overall and at BU); Darrin McBroom (182-54 overall, 5-29 at DU); Taylor Mott (335-200 overall, 31-41 at APSU)
Akron Assistant Coaches: Jayme Plummer (Assistant Coach); Rachel Green (Assistant Coach)
Livestats: Bryant match; Binghamton match; Drake match; Austin Peay match
Video stream: Bryant match; Binghamton match; Drake match; Austin Peay match
FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 5
10:00 a.m. ET - Austin Peay vs. Drake
12:30 p.m. ET - Akron vs. Bryant
3:00 p.m. ET - Binghamton vs. Austin Peay
5:30 p.m. ET - Drake vs. Bryant
8:00 p.m. ET - Akron vs. Binghamton
Saturday, Sept. 6
10:00 a.m. ET - Bryant vs. Austin Peay
12:30 p.m. ET - Binghamton vs. Bryant
3:00 p.m. ET - Akron vs. Drake
5:30 p.m. ET - Drake vs. Binghamton
8:00 p.m. ET - Akron vs. Austin Peay
Home team is listed first.
ZIP LINES
• Akron is in its 41st season of collegiate volleyball. Head coach Ron Arenz is in his seventh season at the helm and holds a 70-111 record leading the Zips.
• 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 hosts its own Akron Invitational Sept. 5-6, welcoming Bryant, Binghamton, Drake and Austin Peay to James A. Rhodes Arena.
• The Zips have compiled an impressive 50-14 (.781) record in non-conference tournaments played at the JAR over the course of the 19 seasons in which Akron has hosted its own Invitational, including eight outright tournament sweeps.
LAST TIME OUT
• Akron dropped a weeknight road match at Cleveland State on Tuesday night, 3-0.
• Freshman Anna Wenger tied a match-high mark with a personal best 11 kills, hitting .250 for the match.
• Callie Mack recorded a career-high 20 digs at libero to lead both teams.
• The Zips finished their first non-conference tournament with a 2-1 record last weekend at the Indiana State Holiday Inn Classic, picking up victories over Chicago State (3-1) and North Carolina A&T (3-0).
• Kelsey Wilson was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 2.20 kills per set over the course of the three matches. She tied a career-high 15 kills against Chicago State, surrendering only two errors in 21 attempts for an impressive .619 attack percentage.
• Wilson also posted eight service aces in the three matches combined, with five against Chicago State. The junior middle blocker leads the Mid-American Conference after the first week of competition with 0.80 service aces per set.
• Next up for Akron is a doubleheader at the Ameritas Players Challenge hosted by The University of Nebraska. The Zips will take on Colgate and Denver on Saturday, Sept. 13.
SCOUTING BRYANT
• Bryant was picked to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference this season by the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs went 8-25 overall and 3-11 in the conference in 2013.
• Nine of Bryant's 16-player roster are newcomers this year.
• Bryant is led by Theresa Garlacy, who is in her 19th year at the helm of the program. The 2014 season will be Bryant's seventh season competing at the Division I level.
• The Bulldogs went 1-3 at their own season-opening tournament, picking up a four-set victory over UMass Lowell and falling to Army (3-1), Towson (3-0) and St. John's (3-0). BU bounced back with a straight-set win over Providence at home on Tuesday.
• Bryant's offense is led by Elena Lohr (3.06 k/s) and Sara DePouw (35 k/s). Setter Vika Nesterov dishes out 8.29 assists per set, while Debora Magalhaes heads up the defense with 4.88 digs per set. Freshman Alexandra Lunsford is averaging 1.24 blocks per set through the first four matches.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
• Binghamton was projected to finish fifth in the America East Conference preseason poll after compiling a 9-19 overall record and a 7-7 conference mark in 2013.
• BU is led by head coach Glenn Kiriyama in his 16th season, the program's only head coach in its 10-year Division I history.
• Binghamton dropped three matches in its opening weekend at the Loyola Marymount Invitational, falling to UCLA, host LMU and LIU Brooklyn in straight sets.
• Sisters Allison and Kristin Hovie are Binghamton's one-two punch offensively, averaging 2.44 and 1.88 kills per set, respectively. The outside hitters are aided by setter Amanda Dettman's 6.62 assists. The Bearcats' defense is led by Bailey Walker's 3.12 digs per set.
SCOUTING DRAKE
• Drake was picked to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll after compiling a 2-28 overall record and a 0-18 conference mark in 2013.
• The Bulldogs return eight letterwinners, including six starters from a year ago.
• DU is led by head coach Darrin McBroom, who is in his second season at Drake after experiencing much success as a head coach at the junior college level.
• Freshman Kyla Inderski has been a standout for Drake offensively during the first week of competition, averaging 3.17 kills per set in the first four matches. Transfer Nicole Woods follows with 2.56 kills per set. Defensively, Michelle Thommi posts 4.44 digs per set, and Katie Dulek adds 0.89 blocks.
• Drake won its first three matches of the season at the Omaha Classic, all in five sets, besting UMKC, Omaha, and Central Michigan. The Bulldogs dropped a 3-0 decision to North Dakota in their home opener on Tuesday night.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY
• Austin Peay was picked to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll after compiling a 13-22 overall record and a 9-7 conference mark in 2013.
• The Governors return 11 letterwinners, including four starters and their libero from last season.
• APSU is led by head coach Taylor Mott, who is in her third season with the Govs.
• Jada Stotts guides APSU's offensive attack with 3.31 kills per set, and Hillary Plybon adds 2.00 kills per set. Cami Fields averages 5.77 assists per set. Lizzy Bales and April Adams lead Austin Peay's defense with just over three digs per set apiece.
• Austin Peay came up short in its first three matches at Clemson's Big Orange Bash on opening weekend, falling to Troy, Clemson and USC Upstate, 3-0. The Govs rebounded with a 3-1 victory on the road at Evansville on Tuesday night.
