Zips Open MAC Play with Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Showdown

Follow Akron Women's Volleyball on Twitter and Facebook

Game Notes (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio- The University of Akron volleyball team opens up Mid-American Conference play this weekend, Friday, Sept. 22, in the first of two meetings this season with Kent State in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Showdown against Kent State at the James A. Rhodes arena at 7 p.m.

THIS WEEK
The Zips start conference play this weekend hosting Kent State and Ohio. Akron opens up the against Kent State in the first meeting of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The Zips continue their homestand on Saturday, Sept. 23 versus Ohio at 5 p.m.

ESPN 3
Akron's game against Kent State will be televised on ESPN 3. Mark "Munch" Bishop will be the broadcast's play-by-play announcer, with Jon Horton serving as the color analyst.

GAMEDAY COVERAGE
Watch ESPN

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
The Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings.

For the second consecutive year in 2016-17, Akron won the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge, claiming a 7.5 to 6.5 victory over Kent State. Kent State earned points for volleyball (0.5), women's soccer (1.0), women's basketball (1.0), men's basketball (1.0), softball (1.0), women's golf (1.0), and men's golf (1.0).

Fans can learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings via www.WagonWheelChallenge.com.

A WIN WOULD GIVE AKRON
-Its fifth victory of the 2017 season.
-Its first conference win of the season.

MEET THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips, under the guidance of third-year head coach Tom Hanna, stand at 4-8 overall after competing in the Black Knights Invitational last weekend. The Zips picked up a 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22) victory over undefeated Providence, but fell to West Virginia (12-15, 12-25, 19-25) and Army (17-25, 14-25, 15-25) by identical 3-0 scores in both matches.

Akron returns six starters from a year ago, while welcoming seven newcomers, including six freshmen. After 12 contests, junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) lead the Zips with 164 kills and 78 digs, followed by junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio) with 96 kills. Freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) directs the defense with 175 digs, averaging 3.98 digs per set.

ZIPS NATIONALLY RANKED
Junior left side hitter Kayla Gwozdz is nationally ranked among three categories. Gwozdz is ranked 78th in attacks per set (10.66), 84th in kills per set (3.73), and 99th in total attacks (469). Freshman setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is ranked 89th for total assists (429).

IN MAC STATS
Kayla Gwozdz and Emily Weigand are ranked among the top-five in three categories in the Mid-American Conference Stats. Gwozdz is rated fourth in MAC stats in attacks per set (10.66), kills per set (3.73), and total attacks (469), while Weigand is fourth in MAC stats in total assists (429).

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kayla Gwozdz was named to the Black Knights Invitational All-Tournament team. Gwozdz completed 32 kills averaging 3.20 kills per set. She also posted 14 digs, and two assists. During the win against Providence, Gwozdz posted a match and team-high 18 kills with a .356 hitting percentage.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes, under eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, stand 2-9 overall. Last weekend, Kent State finished with a 1-2 outing at the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Invitational. The Golden Flashes secured a 3-2 victory over Fort Wayne, while falling to Oakland and Towson, 3-0, in both matches. Senior Kelsey Bittinger leads the Golden Flashes' offense with 131 kills, and 11 assists, while Kent State's defense is paced by senior Challen Geraghty with 204 digs averaging 5.83 digs per set.

SERIES VS. KENT STATE
Kent State holds a 42-35 all-time series advantage over Akron. The two teams met each other twice last season and split the series. Akron fell to Kent State (Sept. 24) 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25), before securing a 3-2 (25-27, 25-21, 31-33, 25-21, 15-8) victory on Oct. 28. This weekend's match is the first of the two appearances this season as the teams meet again on Oct. 28.

SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats, under the fourth-year head coach Deane Webb, stand 6-8 overall. Last weekend, Ohio finished 0-3 at the Penn State Classic. The Bobcats dropped in straight sets against Penn State and Yale, while falling to Wake Forest, 3-1. Sophomore Lizzie Stephens leads the offense with 185 kills and averaging 3.56 kills per set, while freshman Macy Reihing drives the defense with 169 digs.

SERIES VS. OHIO
Ohio holds a 34-23 all-time series advantage over the Zips. Last season, the Bobcats went 2-0 against Akron securing a 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 27-25) win over Akron on Sept. 23 and a 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 25-22) victory on Oct. 29. This weekend marks the first of two meetings this season, Akron faces Ohio on Oct. 27.

UP NEXT FOR AKRON
The Zips are on the road next weekend for a two-game road trip as they take on Buffalo on Thursday, Sept. 28 in Buffalo, N.Y., and Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at Toledo, Ohio.

Zips Open MAC Play with Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Madi Baer

Kayla Gwozdz

Taylor Sharrits

Emily Weigand

The University of Akron Athletics