Zips Fall to Rival Kent State in Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Showdown, 3-0

Saturday, October 28

Kent, OH

5 p.m.

University of Akron

6-18, 2-10MAC

Kent State

5-18, 3-9MAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Akron	16	25	22	0
Kent State	25	27	25	3

Box Score (PDF)

October 28 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Follow Akron Women's Volleyball on Twitter and Facebook

Box Score (PDF)

KENT, Ohio. - The University of Akron volleyball team dropped a three-set decision against rival Kent State (16-26, 25-27, 22-25) on Saturday night at the M.A.C Center in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge match.

Freshman Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) led the Zips' offensive efforts on the evening with an eight-kill effort, followed by senior Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio), who tallied seven kills apiece. Freshman Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) recorded 30 assists, while Akron's defense was paced by freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) with 18 digs.

The Zips saw their record drop to 6-18 overall and 2-10 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Golden Flashes improved to 5-18 overall and 3-9 in league action

Following the decision, Akron retains the lead in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge, 2.5-1.5 points.

Kent State started the match pushing out to a 6-5 lead adding a 5-1 that extended its lead to 11-6. The Zips capitalized on two Kent State errors that put them in position to go on a scoring run, but the Golden Flashes' offense strung together two-straight points that gave them a 20-13 advantage. Two kills from Adleta surged the Zips' late efforts, but Kent State scored the final two points and completed the first set, 25-16.

In the second set, Akron's offense ignited as a 6-1 scoring run put the Zips ahead, 8-3. During the run, Kloehn, Weigand, and Karsner all contributed completing a solo kill, alongside three errors on the Golden Flashes.

Akron increased its lead over Kent State to 15-11 following a pair of errors committed by the Golden Flashes and a Baer kill. Kent State took the lead, 17-16, after its offense put together a 7-1 scoring run.

The two teams exchanged back-and-forth scoring, including six different ties. With the set tied at 23, an attack error on the Golden Flashes gave Akron a one-point lead, 24-23. Kent State scored two-consecutive points before another error on the Golden Flashes tied the match at 25. Kent State went on to score two-straight points to take the second set, 27-25.

In the final set of the match, Akron jumped out to an early 4-2 lead over Kent State. The Golden Flashes took the lead, 6-5 before Baer and Kloehn connected on back-to-back kills to give Akron a 7-6 advantage.

With the score tied at 12, consecutive errors on Kent State provided the Zips a 14-12 lead. With Akron leading, 16-13, the Golden Flashes put together three-consecutive points to knot the set at 16.

The teams battled to take a large lead, but the score remained tied three times until the 19th point when Kent State pulled ahead with the use of a 5-1 run placing them at match-point, 24-20. The Zips continued to battle with back-to-back kills from Adleta and Baer, but it wasn't enough as the Golden Flashes took the final set victory, 25-22.

Akron was out-hit .134 percent, to Kent State's .186.

The Zips return back home for two matches next weekend as they open with Buffalo on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., followed by Ball State on Saturday, Nov. 4, for a 5 p.m. start at the James A. Rhodes Arena. Thursday's match against Buffalo will be broadcasted on ESPN 3.