AKRON OPENS REGULAR SEASON IN KRISTIN DICKMANN INVITATIONAL THIS WEEKEND

Friday, August 25

Annapolis, MD

7 p.m.

University of Akron

Navy

August 24 | Women's Volleyball

Follow Akron Women's Volleyball on Twitter and Facebook

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO (NAVY)

AKRON, Ohio- The University of Akron volleyball team travels to Annapolis, Md. this weekend to open regular season at the Kristin Dickmann Invitational. UA will play tournament host Navy on Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Zips close tournament play with a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern shore at 1 p.m., and St. Francis (PA) at 4:30 p.m.

THIS WEEK
Akron Volleyball will kick off its 44ths season as a program at the Kristin Dickmann Invitational on Aug. 25-26 in Annapolis, Md. All games will be played at Alumni Hall.

On Friday, Aug. 25, the Zips open up the year with Navy at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 26, the Zips close out invitational play with Maryland Eastern Shore at 1 p.m. and St. Francis (PA) at 4:30 p.m.

SEASON OPENERS
Akron stands 1-1 in season openers under head coach Tom Hanna.

MEET THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips, under the guidance of third-year head coach Tom Hanna, finished the 2016 season 8-20 overall, and 3-13 in Mid-American Conference play. Akron returns six starters from last season, including the Zips' top hitters from last season in redshirt junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio), who posted 216 kills along with 237 points last season, and junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) with 246 kills and 262 points. Also highlighting Akron's three seniors are middle blockers Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wis.), and Julie Shallman (Holt, Mich.), and defensive specialist Aubrey Kozer (Norton, Ohio).

Additionally, the Zips welcome seven newcomers in freshmen Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio), Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio), Taylor Kuruzovich (Port Matilda, Pa.), Kaylee Rogers (Parker, Colo.), Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio), Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio), and by junior setter Jelena Slijepcevic (Ruma, Serbia).

SCOUTING NAVY
The Ships, under guidance of seventh-year head coach Larry Brock open the season against Akron. Navy finished the 2016 season with a 20-9 overall record. Navy returns 10 letterwinners, including five starters.

SERIES VS. NAVY
Navy holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with Akron. The Mids defeated the Zips in a pair of neutral site matches in 1983 and 1988 when Navy competed on the NCAA Division II level, with Akron winning a 2015 meeting (25-20, 26-24, 25-23) played as part of the Akron Invite.

SCOUTING MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
The Hawks, under direction of third-year head coach Toby Rens, finished the 2016 season with an 18-13 record. The Hawks return nine starters and welcome five newcomers.

SERIES VS. MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
This weekend marks the first meeting with the Hawks and Zips.

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS (PA)
The Red Flash, under second-year head coach Sara McMullen finished the 2016 season with a 5-22 record. The Red Flash welcome five freshman to their team to offset the five seniors on the roster.

SERIES VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA)
This will be the first of two meetings between the Zips and flash, with the two teams set to face off during the Youngstown State Invitational on Sep. 9. St. Francis holds a 11-2 record over Akron. The teams last met in 2015 where the Zips beat the the Red Flash twice 3-0, and 3-1.

UP NEXT FOR AKRON
The Zips travel back home and open up home play hosting the Akron Invitational Friday, Sep. 1-2. Akron will go against Loyola (Md.) on Friday, Sep. 1 at 7 p.m. The Zips close out the invitational with a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Sep. 2 at 12:30 p.m. and La Salle at 7 p.m. All games will be played at the James A. Rhodes Arena.