Akron Zips Earn Split in Akron Invitational Finale

Saturday, September 2

Akron, OH

12:30 p.m.

University of Akron

2-3

Tennessee Tech

2-3

Team	1	2	3	Final F
TTU	20	23	17	0
Akron	25	25	25	3

Game Notes (PDF)Boxscore (PDF)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
LaSalle	16	25	25	25	3
Akron	25	22	20	17	1

September 02 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron Zips volleyball team split a pair of matches on the final day of the Akron Invitational on Saturday, toppling Tennessee Tech in straight sets, before falling to LaSalle in four.

The Zips stand at 2-4 overall on the season, while Tennessee Tech fell to 2-4 on the season and LaSalle improved to 6-1 on the season.

Tennessee Tech began the first match of the day for the Zips with a 4-0 lead until a 4-2 scoring run for Akron with kills from junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio) and sophomore Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) brought the Zips within two. A kill by senior Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wis.) tied the set at 16 which put the Zips in position to take their first lead of the set. Akron went on an 8-2 scoring run and took the lead 23-18. The Zips ended the set on a Baer kill, 25-20.

The second set was a battle with 10 tied scores. A service error by the Golden Eagles gave the Zips a 16-14, before Tennessee Tech's momentum took the Golden Eagles on a 4-2 run that placed them ahead 19-18. An attack error by the Golden Eagles tied the set at 20, before the Zips pulled away from back-to-back kills from Baer. UA took the second set, 25-23.

The Zips continued their momentum from set two and lead set three all the way. Akron ignited its offense by getting off to a 7-3 start. The Zips used another 7-3 run to increase their lead to as much as seven making it 24-16, before a kill from Baer secured the straight set sweep for the Zips.

Junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) had a match-high 16 kills, followed by Baer who recorded a team-high .500 hitting percentage as the Zips swept the Golden Eagles in straight sets (25-20, 25-23, 25-17).

Freshman setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) kept the Golden Eagles' defense guessing by spreading out the court dishing up a match-high 37 assists, followed by Kloehn protecting the net with a match-high five blocks.

Akron edged Tennessee Tech in hitting .352 to .240

In the evening match, UA had its troubles handling LaSalle falling in four sets (25-16, 22-25, 20-25, 17-25) in the final match of the tournament.

Akron kept things rolling from its previous match and started off set one with a 11-6 lead on the strength of a 6-2 run. Two errors by the Explorers sparked another Zips' run that put Akron ahead 21-14. A final kill by Gwozdz secured the Zips' 25-16 victory. For the set Richardson and Gwozdz both recorded four kills each.

The second set was a battle for both teams as there were 11 ties in the frame. LaSalle got off to a quick 3-0 start before a kill by Kloehn sparked the Zips' offense going on a 5-2 run.

The Explorers answered back answered back and led the rest of the second set completing a 25-16 victory. LaSalle's Samantha Graver was the leading hitter for the Explorers with six kills, while Gwozdz led the Zips with six kills, respectively.

The Explorers continued their momentum and lead set three all the way. LaSalle jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead. A kill by Richardson brought the Zips within three, 13-10. The Explorers took the third set, 25-20. Richardson had three kills in the set with a .429 hitting percentage.

Trailing Akron in the fourth set, the Explorers used a 7-3 run, which gave it an 8-5 lead. LaSalle led the rest of what proved to be the final set. A 9-2 LaSalle run was ended by a Baer kill. Back-to-back errors on the Explorers brought the Zips within five, but the three errors halted the scoring momentum and LaSalle completed the fourth set, 25-17, and earned the match victory.

Gwozdz was named to the All-Tournament team and paced the Zips with 16 kills, hitting .200.
Richardson connected on 11 kills for a .500 hitting percentage. Defensively, Freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) had a team-high 12 digs, followed by Klohen with four blocks.

LaSalle edged Akron slightly hitting .647 (55-85) to Akron's .606 (54-89).

The Zips returning to action traveling to Youngstown, Ohio for the Courtyard Marriott-Canfield Penguin Invitational Sept. 8-9. UA battles Fort Wayne on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. The Zips wrap-up tournament play on Saturday, Sept. 9 with a doubleheader against tournament host Youngstown State at 11 a.m., and St. Francis (PA) a 4:30 p.m.