Zips serve Providence First Loss of the Season

Friday, September 15

West Point, NY

11 a.m.

University of Akron

3-7, 0-0MAC

West Virginia

9-2, 0-0BIG 12

Akron

WVU

September 15 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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MATCH 1 Box Score (PDF)
MATCH 2 Box Score (PDF)

WEST POINT, N.Y.- The University of Akron volleyball secured a 3-1 victory over previously undefeated Providence, while falling to West Virginia, 3-0, on the opening day of the Black Knights Invitational at West Point, N.Y., on Friday.

The Zips improved to 4-7 overall with the victory over the Friars. The Mountaineers extended their record to 9-2 on the season, while Providence suffered its first loss of the season and stands at 11-1.

In the final match of the day for the Zips, Akron secured its fourth win of the season defeating undefeated Providence in a 3-1 decision (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22).

In the first set, the Zips' offense started off well scoring the first point of the set. With the score tied at five all, the Friars went on a 5-2 scoring drive to regain the lead. The Zips answered back with a 6-1 run to regain the lead, 11-10. Providence went up 20-18 kills by junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) and freshman Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) tied the score at 20 all. Back-to-back attack errors on the Friars helped secure the Zips' 25-23 decision in set one.

The Friars' offense sparked in the second set jumping out to a 6-2 early lead. Akron used a 6-1 run of its own to tie the game at seven, but both teams continued to fire back-and-forth scoring.

With the Zips leading 16-14, the Friars used a 6-1 scoring run to regain the advantage and put them in position to complete a 25-22 set two victory.

Akron limited Providence to only a .075 hitting percentage in the third set, while the Zips .175 hitting percentage got them a 13-11 lead thanks to two Friar attacking errors and a kill from senior Julie Shallman (Holt, Mich.). The score sat tied at 17 all until a 5-1 scoring run sparked the Zips' offense and gave them a comfortable 22-18 lead. A kill by freshman Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) put UA at set point, and a Providence attacking error concluded the 25-23 set win for Akron.

In the final set, Akron's offense continued to connect with kills and jumped ahead 3-0. The Friars got going with the help of a 6-1 scoring run which tied the set at 10 all. With the score tied at 20, the Zips went on 4-1 run that put them at match point. A kill from Senior Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wis.) gave the Zips the final point of the match and triumph over the Friars.

Gwozdz led the match with a match and team-high 18 kills, followed by redshirt junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio), who connected on 11 kills. Baer also had a team-high three aces, and two blocks. On defense, Weigand and freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) led the team with 12 digs each, closely followed by Baer with 11.

In the opening match of the tournament, Akron fell to West Virginia in straight sets, 3-0 (12-25, 12-25, 19-25)

Gwozdz led the Zips with 18 kills, followed by sophomore Elya Karsner (Frankfort, Ky.) with four kills.

A match-high 10 digs from Sharrits directed the Zips' defense. Senior Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wis.) also led the team with three solo blocks.

In the first set, West Virginia held the lead for the entire set. The Zips trailed the Mountaineers early, 10-2. Akron searched for a run of its own to chip away at West Virginia's eight-point lead, but were only allowed a 3-1 run. During the run, Gwozdz had back-to-back kills sparking the Zips' offense. UA continued to trail as West Virginia went on another 5-1 run of its own and secured the 25-12 victory of set one.

Akron started off the second set in better position by scoring the first point and being tied at four all, but West Virginia regained the lead with a 6-1 run making it 10-5. Akron capitalized on three attack errors from the Mountaineers to spark a scoring drive, but West Virginia engineered another scoring run that gave the Mountaineers a 23-11 lead. A service ace gave West Virginia the second-set victory. Seven of the 12 Zips' points came off of errors from the Mountaineers. Gwozdz led the Zips during the second set with two kills.

In the final set, the Zips continued their early start scoring getting the first point of the set. With the scored tied at four all, the Mountaineers gained ground with a 7-2 scoring run that gave them a 11-6 lead. Akron cut into West Virginia's lead with scoring three-straight points making it 24-17 in the Mountaineers favor. Back-to-back West Virginia errors gave the Zips two free points making it 24-19, but the Mountaineers completed the match victory on a Morgan Montgomery kill.

The Zips continue tournament play tomorrow with a single match against tournament host Army at noon.