The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Volleyball Hits the Road for Matches at Northern Illinois and Western Michigan
October 11 | Women's Volleyball
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MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of Mid-American Conference matches against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Akron takes on the Huskies at 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Oct. 12, in DeKalb, Ill., before traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face the Broncos on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
The contest at WMU will be broadcast on ESPN3.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron at Northern Illinois
Watch
Live Stats
Akron at Western Michigan
Watch ESPN3
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 171-204, including 32-70 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 205 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 149 and 157 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .333 and blocks with 44. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .241 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.06 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and the MAC with 37 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 311 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies are 6-15 overall and 4-2 in MAC play. Last weekend, Northern Illinois went 1-1 on the road, falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-0, before defeating Central Michigan, 3-1.
Senior middle blocker Meg Wolowicz leads NIU and ranks second in the MAC with 313 kills, averaging 4.12 kills per set. The Huskies' attack is coordinated by freshman setter Grace Balensiefer, who is averaging 7.51 assists per set. Sophomore Miranda Karlen holds a team-best of 26 service aces.
Karlen directs the defensive efforts with 388 total digs. The sophomore's 5.04 digs per set average ranks fourth in the MAC standings. Freshman Jasmine Kemp and redshirt senior Chrystal McAlpin lead the Huskies with 62 and 57 blocks, respectively.
As a team, Northern Illinois is hitting .178, while its opponents hold a. 230 hitting clip.
NIU is under the guidance of head coach Ray Gooden, who has led the Huskies to a 297-214Â record in 16 seasons.
SERIES VS. THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois leads the all-time series over Akron, 25-8. A season ago, the Zips pushed the Huskies to five sets, but ultimately fell, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20, 11-15). The match on Friday will be the 34th meeting between the two programs
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos stand 12-8 overall and 2-4 in MAC matches this season. Western Michigan will take on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Broncos earned a split, defeating Central Michigan in straight sets before falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-1
WMU is led on offense sophomore Rachel Bontrager, who is averaging 3.95 kills per set on a season total of 300 kills. Senior setter Mary Murphy ranks third in the MAC with an average of 9.74 assists per set.
Junior Kathleen Reilly holds team-bests of 372 digs (4.89 per set) and 19 service aces. Redshirt freshman Janell Williams paces the Broncos with 49 total blocks.
As a team, the Broncos are hitting .220, while holding its opponents to a .188 mark.
Western Michigan is under the direction of Colleen Munson who is in her 14th season as head coach.
SERIES VS. THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan holds a 24-11 advantage in the all-time series with Akron. Last season, the Zips dropped a 3-1 decision to WMU by scores of 16-25, 25-14, 23-25, 24-26. The match this weekend will be the 36th meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron earned two MAC victories last weekend, sweeping Buffalo by scores of 25-13, 28-26, 25-23, before defeating Toledo, 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11).
In the Zips' sweep over Buffalo, the offensive efforts were led for the fourth-straight match by senior Kayla Gwozdz, who totaled 15 kills on the night. Junior Ashley Richardson and sophomore Alexis Adleta added 10 and six kills, respectively. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits directed the Zips' defense with 17 digs.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) proved why she is nationally ranked in service aces, adding five more against Buffalo. Weigand also recorded team-high 30 set assists.
In the five-set victory over Toledo, Gwozdz paced the offense with 14 kills. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer and Richardson added 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Weigand posted a double-double on 43 set assists and 12 digs. Richardson and Sharrits recorded two service aces apiece for the Zips.
Sharrits also led the back-row defense with 26 digs, while Richardson led at the net with a career high of six total blocks.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron returns home to face Central Michigan, Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. The Zips' match against the Chippewas will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of Mid-American Conference matches against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Akron takes on the Huskies at 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Oct. 12, in DeKalb, Ill., before traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face the Broncos on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
The contest at WMU will be broadcast on ESPN3.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron at Northern Illinois
Watch
Live Stats
Akron at Western Michigan
Watch ESPN3
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 171-204, including 32-70 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 205 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 149 and 157 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .333 and blocks with 44. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .241 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.06 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and the MAC with 37 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 311 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
- Akron continues to improve under the guidance of Tom Hanna as its 10 victories are the most wins the Zips have had in a season since 2014 (26-7).
- Sophomore setter Emily Weigand is ranked sixth nationally in total service aces (37) and seventh in service aces per set (0.55).
- As a team, Akron is ranked 31st in the nation in aces per set (1.64) and 39th in total service aces (108).
- In the MAC, Akron ranks first in service aces per set (1.64), fourth in assists per set (11.82) and fifth in kills per set (12.71)Â and in hitting percentage (.211).
- After recording a season high .481 hitting clip in the 3-0 win over Buffalo last week, Gwozdz was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week.
- The Zips have earned three MAC East Player of the Week honors this season.
- Akron is 6-3 in home matches this season.
- The Zips have a hitting percentage of .211 this season, while holding its opponents to .203.
- Gwozdz has posted double-digit kill totals in 13 of the Zips' 17 matches, including season-high 20 kills at Kent State, Sept. 28.
- Weigand has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
- Akron is 4-2 in five-set matches, 2-1 in four-set matches and 4-4 in three-set matches.
- Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits has posted double-digit digs in 19 of the last 22 matches she has played in, including a career high of 32 digs in Akron's 3-2 win over Cal State Fullerton earlier this season.
- Four freshmen have seen playing time in at least half of Akron's matches this season including Mahogany Vinson (Richton Park, Ill), Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.), Hannah Yaconis (Batavia, Ill.) and Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio).
- The Zips' roster consists of 10 returners and five newcomers.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies are 6-15 overall and 4-2 in MAC play. Last weekend, Northern Illinois went 1-1 on the road, falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-0, before defeating Central Michigan, 3-1.
Senior middle blocker Meg Wolowicz leads NIU and ranks second in the MAC with 313 kills, averaging 4.12 kills per set. The Huskies' attack is coordinated by freshman setter Grace Balensiefer, who is averaging 7.51 assists per set. Sophomore Miranda Karlen holds a team-best of 26 service aces.
Karlen directs the defensive efforts with 388 total digs. The sophomore's 5.04 digs per set average ranks fourth in the MAC standings. Freshman Jasmine Kemp and redshirt senior Chrystal McAlpin lead the Huskies with 62 and 57 blocks, respectively.
As a team, Northern Illinois is hitting .178, while its opponents hold a. 230 hitting clip.
NIU is under the guidance of head coach Ray Gooden, who has led the Huskies to a 297-214Â record in 16 seasons.
SERIES VS. THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois leads the all-time series over Akron, 25-8. A season ago, the Zips pushed the Huskies to five sets, but ultimately fell, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20, 11-15). The match on Friday will be the 34th meeting between the two programs
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos stand 12-8 overall and 2-4 in MAC matches this season. Western Michigan will take on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Broncos earned a split, defeating Central Michigan in straight sets before falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-1
WMU is led on offense sophomore Rachel Bontrager, who is averaging 3.95 kills per set on a season total of 300 kills. Senior setter Mary Murphy ranks third in the MAC with an average of 9.74 assists per set.
Junior Kathleen Reilly holds team-bests of 372 digs (4.89 per set) and 19 service aces. Redshirt freshman Janell Williams paces the Broncos with 49 total blocks.
As a team, the Broncos are hitting .220, while holding its opponents to a .188 mark.
Western Michigan is under the direction of Colleen Munson who is in her 14th season as head coach.
SERIES VS. THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan holds a 24-11 advantage in the all-time series with Akron. Last season, the Zips dropped a 3-1 decision to WMU by scores of 16-25, 25-14, 23-25, 24-26. The match this weekend will be the 36th meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron earned two MAC victories last weekend, sweeping Buffalo by scores of 25-13, 28-26, 25-23, before defeating Toledo, 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11).
In the Zips' sweep over Buffalo, the offensive efforts were led for the fourth-straight match by senior Kayla Gwozdz, who totaled 15 kills on the night. Junior Ashley Richardson and sophomore Alexis Adleta added 10 and six kills, respectively. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits directed the Zips' defense with 17 digs.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) proved why she is nationally ranked in service aces, adding five more against Buffalo. Weigand also recorded team-high 30 set assists.
In the five-set victory over Toledo, Gwozdz paced the offense with 14 kills. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer and Richardson added 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Weigand posted a double-double on 43 set assists and 12 digs. Richardson and Sharrits recorded two service aces apiece for the Zips.
Sharrits also led the back-row defense with 26 digs, while Richardson led at the net with a career high of six total blocks.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron returns home to face Central Michigan, Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. The Zips' match against the Chippewas will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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