Akron Volleyball Earns Split on Final Day of Kristen Dickmann Invitational

Saturday, August 26

Annapolis, MD

1 p.m.

University of Akron

1-1

Maryland Eastern Shore

1-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
MD Eastern Shore	22	25	22	25	12	2
Akron	25	21	25	12	15	3

Box Score (PDF)

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Akron	17	21	21	0
Saint Francis U.	25	25	25	3

August 26 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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Match 1Box Score (PDF)
Match 2 Box Score (PDF)

ANNAPOLIS, Md.- The University of Akron volleyball team split its two matches in the Kristen Dickmann Invitational on Saturday, toppling Maryland Eastern Shore in five sets, before falling to St. Francis (Pa.) in straight sets.

The Zips are 1-2 overall, while Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 1-1 on the season and St. Francis (Pa.) dropped to 1-2 overall.

Junior left side hitter Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) had a match-high 23 kills, and 24.5 points as the Zips battled to a five-set decision versus Maryland Eastern Shore, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 12-25, and 15-12. Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) also chipped in nine kills.

Set number one was a slugfest with neither squad mustering a lead larger than five points. The score sat tied on 11 different occasions. Back-to-back service aces from junior Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) gave the Zips enough juice to pull away from an 18-all tie to make it 20-18. Gwozdz scored the Zips' final three points off of back-to-back kills, and a final service ace, which ended the 25-22 set.

With the number of tied scores shrunk to eight in set number two, there were six lead changes in the period. The final edge came midway through, however, on a Rachel Kayongo kill pulling Maryland Eastern Shore ahead 21-18. A 4-3 run by Hawks ended the set at 25-21.

The Zips held the Hawks to a .098 hitting percentage in the third set and were able to hang around thanks in large part to six Hawks service errors. UA was able to battle back from an 18-all tie and pulled a way from an Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) service ace capturing set number three, 25-22.

Maryland Eastern Shore turned up the heat in set number four with a .550 hitting percentage and only one error. The Zips struggled to hit with six kills to the Hawks' 12 kills. The Hawks took the fourth set, 25-12 forcing the match to a deciding fifth set.

Akron battled in the final set with a .471 hitting percentage limiting the Hawk to only six kills. There were eight ties and four lead changes. With an eight-all tie, the Zips used a 5-2 run which gave them a three-point cushion. The Zips finished the fifth set, 15-12, winning the match.

UA had its troubles handling St. Francis (Pa.) in the second match of the day falling in straight sets, 15-25, 21-25, and 21-25.

Akron got off to a slow start in the first set, but stayed within a three-point distance. The Red Flash used an 8-4 run to move past the Zips and take the first set, 25-17. In the second set, the Zips got off to a fast 6-0 lead. There were four ties in the set, with only one lead change. At a 12-all tie, a Kelsey Roush kill put the Red Flash ahead for good completing the 25-21 set.

In the final set, the Zips were out-hit .068 to .190. A kill from Gwozdz tied the set at seven, but St. Francis used a 7-2 run which made it a comfortable 14-9 lead. The Red Flash took the third set, 25-21 and the match.

Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) kept the St. Francis defense guessing by spreading out the offense and dishing out a team-high 28 assists, while freshman defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) contributed 17 digs. Gwozdz led the way with 12 kills, followed closely by freshman Alexis Adleta ( West Chester, Ohio) with seven kills. Zips middle blocker Julie Shallman (Holt, Mich.) led the team hitting with a .667 percentage.

Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the tournament the freshman recorded a team-high 45 digs, seven set assists, an chipped in two points.

The Zips travel back home and host the Akron Invitational Friday, Sept. 1-2. Akron will go against Loyola (Md.) on Friday, Sept.1 at 7 p.m. The Zips close out the invitational with a double header against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 12:30 p.m. and La Salle at 7 p.m. All games will be played at the James A. Rhodes Arena.