Zips Travel to Buffalo and Toledo - University of Akron Athletics

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AKRON,Ohio- The University of Akron volleyball team hits the road this weekend for two matches against Buffalo and Toledo. Thursday, Sept. 28 Akron takes on Buffalo at 7 p.m. in Buffalo, N.Y., followed by a visit to Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 30, for a 5 p.m. start.

THIS WEEK
Akron starts its two-game road trip opening the weekend against Buffalo on Thursday, Sept.28 at 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena. The Zips close their road trip on Saturday, Sept. 30 against Toledo and take on the Rockets at 5 p.m. at the Savage Arena.

ESPN3
Akron's game against Buffalo will be televised on ESPN3

GAMEDAY COVERAGE
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A WIN WOULD GIVE AKRON
-Its sixth victory of the 2017 season
-Its second conference win of the season

MEET THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips, under the guidance of third-year head coach Tom Hanna, stand 5-9 overall and 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play after opening up league play last weekend. The Zips picked up a 3-1 (25-27, 25-15, 25-18, 25-23) victory over rival Kent State in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge match, but fell to Ohio in a 3-1 (15-25, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25) decision.

Akron returns six starters from a year ago, while welcoming seven newcomers, including six freshmen. After 14 contests, junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) lead the Zips with 189 kills and 90 digs, followed by junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio) with 96 kills. Freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) directs the defense with 197 digs, averaging 3.79 digs per set.

ZIPS NATIONALLY RANKED
Junior left side hitter Kayla Gwozdz is nationally ranked among three categories. Gwozdz is ranked 62nd in attacks per set (10.98), 98th in kills per set (3.63), and 109th in total kills (189). Freshman setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is rated 64th for total aces (21) 71st in aces per set (.40), and 85th in total assists (505).

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 (10.98), kills per set (3.63), and total attacks (571), while Weigand is third in MAC stats in aces per set (.40 and total aces (21).

SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls, under third-year head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz, stand 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the MAC. Last weekend, Buffalo finished with a 2-0 record to open conference play. The Bulls secured a 3-1 victory over Ohio and edged Kent State, 3-0. Sophomore Polina Prokudina leads the Bulls' offense with 202 kills, averaging 3.96 kills per set with a .210 hitting percentage. Buffalo's defense is paced by junior Laura Bickelhaupt with 176 digs and 3.45 digs per set.

SERIES VS. BUFFALO
Akron holds a 27-14 all-time series advantage over Buffalo. The two teams met each other twice last season and split the series. Akron fell to Buffalo, (Sept. 29) 3-2 (25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 22-25, 4-15), before securing a 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12) victory on Nov. 3. This weekend's match is the first of the two meetings this season as the teams meet again on Nov. 2 at Akron.

SCOUTING TOLEDO
The Rockets, under the eighth-year head coach Greg Smith, stand 5-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Last weekend, Toledo finished 0-2 to begin conference play. The Rockets fell to Central Michigan, 3-2, before falling to Eastern Michigan in straight sets. Senior Saige Thomas leads the Rockets' offense with 154 kills averaging 2.80 kills per set. Toledo's defense is paced by junior Maurissa Leonard with 286 digs, averaging 4.93 digs per set.

SERIES VS. TOLEDO
Toledo holds a 27-24 all-time series advantage over Akron. Last season, Toledo came out with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 21-25, 23-25) victory over the Zips, (Oct. 1). This weekend marks the 51st meeting between the two teams.

UP NEXT FOR AKRON
The Zips continue on the road next weekend for a two-game road trip. Akron opens up with Miami (Ohio) on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio, then closes its road trip at Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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Players Mentioned

Madi Baer

Kayla Gwozdz

Taylor Sharrits

Emily Weigand

The University of Akron Athletics