Zips Serve Buffalo First Conference Loss of the Season in Four Sets

Thursday, September 28

Buffalo, NY

7 p.m.

University of Akron

6-9, 2-1MAC

Buffalo

9-5, 2-1MAC

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Akron	25	18	25	27	3
Buffalo	23	25	15	25	1

Box Score (PDF)

September 28 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio- The University of Akron volleyball team secured a 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 27-25) road victory over Buffalo on Thursday night in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Zips improved to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Bulls dropped to 9-5 in league action and 2-1 in the MAC.

"We had to overcome a number of uncontrollable situations tonight," said head coach Tom Hanna. "We did a great job as a team to fight for a road MAC win."

This marked the third consecutive year in which Akron registered a road victory at Buffalo.

Akron's offense was led by junior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) with 13 kills, followed closely by junior Madi Baer (Stow, Ohio) and senior Jessica Kloehn (Milwaukee, Wis.) with 10 kills each. The defense was paced by the play of senior Aubrey Kozer (Norton, Ohio), who had 18 digs, and freshman Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) with 14 digs. Freshman Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) led the match with four service aces, and 39 assists.

The two teams remained within striking distance of each other early in the first set until the Bulls struck with a 6-1 scoring run to assume an early 10-5 lead. Akron answered back with a 5-1 run of its own to cut Buffalo's advantage down to two, 10-8. With the Zips trailing by as many as five, Akron's offense ignited with the help of three Buffalo attack errors and a service ace, before a kill from Weigand tied the set at 18. Akron scored three-straight points off a Baer kill and two consecutive attack errors by Buffalo to secure the 25-23 set one victory.

In the second set, Buffalo got out to an early 6-2 lead, before the Zips cut the Bulls' lead to one. Buffalo continued its offensive striking with a 7-2 run which extended its lead to 15-8. The Zips' efforts continued to cut at the Bull's lead with the use of an Akron 6-2 run to bring the Zips within three, 17-14. Buffalo's scoring wouldn't be stopped as it took the second set, 25-18.

The Zips' offense dominated across the entire third set. With a 14-11, the Zips took off with a 9-2 run that gave UA a 23-13 lead. During the scoring run, Gwozdz and Kloehn connected on two kills each. An attack error on Buffalo put Akron at match point, before Baer completed a kill for the Zips 25-15 set three victory.

With UA leading two sets to one, the Zips' offensive continued their hot striking and lead the fourth set 6-2. Buffalo threatened back with a 6-3 run that brought them within one, but Akron continued to pull away. With the Zips leading 18-15, the Bulls tied the set at 19 with the help of a 4-1 run. The two teams battled back-and-fourth with the score being tied five times. With the score even at 25 all, back-to-back kills from Baer and Kloehn scored the Zips' last two points to secure the match victory 27-25.

Akron out-hit Buffalo 53 kills to 47 and had a .234 hitting percentage to Buffalo's .161.
The Zips continue their road play traveling to Toledo, Ohio, as they take on Toledo on Saturday, at 5 p.m. at Savage Arena.