The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, October 19
Akron, OH
7 PM
University of Akron
vs
Central Michigan
Akron Volleyball Returns Home to Host Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan
October 18 | Women's Volleyball
Follow Akron Volleyball on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns home to host Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan this weekend. The Zips will take on the Chippewas on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. before facing the Eagles, Saturday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m.
The contest against Central Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN3, with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Jon Horton (color) calling the match.
DIG PINK WEEKEND
The Zips' volleyball team takes the court inside James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20 for its annual 'Dig Pink' weekend. All weekend the Zips will be collecting new bras to donate to the Haven of Rest Ministries in Akron, while both matches include a Pink Akron T-Shirt Giveaway for the first 200 fans. On Oct. 19, there will be an auction for a team signed pink Akron Volleyball Jersey. The following day, Saturday, an "Akron goes Pink" basket will be raffled off. Half of the ticket proceeds from both matches will be donated to the Side-Out Foundation, which works towards the development of treatments that give Stage IV Breast Cancer patients more quality time with their families.
To donate directly to Akron Volleyball's campaign, visit: https://giving.sideout.org/campaigns/14808#/
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 171-206, including 32-72 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 226 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 176 and 164 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .333 and blocks with 47. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .223 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.40 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and the MAC with 38 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 335 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas are 3-17 overall and have yet to pick up a MAC win this season entering play with an 0-8 conference record. Last weekend, Central Michigan went 0-2, falling to the top two teams in the East, Bowling Green and Miami, both by a score of 3-1.
Sophomore outside hitter Kalina Smith leads CMUÂ with 203 kills, averaging 2.90 kills per set. The Chippewas' attack is coordinated by freshman Kendall Braate, who is averaging 5.34 assists per set. Freshman Savannah Thompson holds a team-best 16 service aces.
Junior libero Megan Kern directs the defensive efforts with 250 total digs. Freshman Maddie Whitfield and junior Jayla Wesley lead the Chippewas with 43 and 40 blocks, respectively.
As a team, Central Michigan is hitting .150, while its opponents hold a .239 hitting clip.
CMU is under the guidance of third-year head coach Mike Gawlik.
SERIES VS. THE CHIPPEWAS
The Chippewas hold a 20-13 lead over Akron in the all-time series. Last season, the Zips fell at Central Michigan, 3-0 (20-25, 21-25, 21-25). The match this weekend marks the 34rd meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles stand 13-9 overall and 5-3 in MAC play this season. Eastern Michigan will take on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Eagles took Miami to five sets, but ultimately fell, 3-2, before being topped by Bowling Green, 3-1.
EMU is led on offense senior Jordan Smith, who is averaging 3.53 kills per set on a season total of 272 kills. Redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski is averaging 7.74 assists per set, while Riley Taylor holds a team-best 23 service aces.
Senior Alyssa LaFace leads the Eagles with 466 digs (6.05 per set). Sophomore April Houston and redshirt junior Cassie Haut direct the defense at the net with 64 blocks apiece.
As a team, the Eagles are hitting .228, while holding its opponents to a .145 mark.
Eastern Michigan is under the direction of head coach Kim Olson, who has compiled a 38-55 record in three seasons.
SERIES VS. THE EAGLES
The Zips hold a 19-18 edge in the all-time series over Eastern Michigan. A season ago, Akron dropped a 3-1 (15-25, 22-25, 25-23, 16-25) decision to the Eagles. The contest on Saturday will be the 38th encounter between the two programs.
LAST WEEK
Akron fell to both Northern Illinois, 3-0 (22-25, 23-25, 23-25), and Western Michigan, 3-0 (22-25, 19-25, 21-25), on the road last weekend.
At Northern Illinois, Kayla Gwozdz paced the Zips' offense with 13 kills. Sophomore Alexis Adleta recorded nine kills on the night, while freshman Megan Kelly set a new career high with nine kills. Sophomore setter Emily Weigand dished out 37 set assists.
Against Western Michigan, Ashley Richardson recorded 13 kills on a .480 hitting clip for the Zips, while senior Gwozdz had eight kills. Weigand coordinated the Zips' attack with 30 set assists. Additionally, Wiegand added six digs, a service ace and a block. Adleta had a team-best eight digs.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron travels to take on Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. and Miami, Saturday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.
Â
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns home to host Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan this weekend. The Zips will take on the Chippewas on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. before facing the Eagles, Saturday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m.
The contest against Central Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN3, with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Jon Horton (color) calling the match.
DIG PINK WEEKEND
The Zips' volleyball team takes the court inside James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20 for its annual 'Dig Pink' weekend. All weekend the Zips will be collecting new bras to donate to the Haven of Rest Ministries in Akron, while both matches include a Pink Akron T-Shirt Giveaway for the first 200 fans. On Oct. 19, there will be an auction for a team signed pink Akron Volleyball Jersey. The following day, Saturday, an "Akron goes Pink" basket will be raffled off. Half of the ticket proceeds from both matches will be donated to the Side-Out Foundation, which works towards the development of treatments that give Stage IV Breast Cancer patients more quality time with their families.
To donate directly to Akron Volleyball's campaign, visit: https://giving.sideout.org/campaigns/14808#/
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 171-206, including 32-72 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 226 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 176 and 164 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .333 and blocks with 47. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .223 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.40 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and the MAC with 38 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 335 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 2012 (16-3).
- Sophomore setter Emily Weigand is ranked eighth nationally in both total service aces (38) and service aces per set (0.53).
- As a team, Akron is ranked 36th in the nation in aces per set (1.58) and 55th in total service aces (114).
- In the MAC, Akron ranks first in service aces per set (1.58), fourth in assists per set (11.90) and fifth in kills per set (12.83)Â and in hitting percentage (.231).
- The Zips have earned three MAC East Player of the Week honors this season (Taylor Sharrits, Ashley Richardson and Kayla Gwozdz).
- Akron is 6-3 in home matches this season.
- The Zips have a hitting percentage of .213 this season, while holding its opponents to .211.
- Gwozdz has posted double-digit kill totals in 14 of the Zips' 19 matches, including season-high 20 kills at Kent State, Sept. 28.
- Weigand has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
- Ashley Richardson recorded her 100th career block at Western Michigan on Oct. 13.
- Sharrits has recorded 143 digs at James A. Rhodes Arena this season, while Weigand has dished out 233 assists on the Zips' home court.
- Akron is 4-2 in five-set matches and 2-1 in four-set matches.
- Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits has posted double-digit digs in 20 of the last 24 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 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas are 3-17 overall and have yet to pick up a MAC win this season entering play with an 0-8 conference record. Last weekend, Central Michigan went 0-2, falling to the top two teams in the East, Bowling Green and Miami, both by a score of 3-1.
Sophomore outside hitter Kalina Smith leads CMUÂ with 203 kills, averaging 2.90 kills per set. The Chippewas' attack is coordinated by freshman Kendall Braate, who is averaging 5.34 assists per set. Freshman Savannah Thompson holds a team-best 16 service aces.
Junior libero Megan Kern directs the defensive efforts with 250 total digs. Freshman Maddie Whitfield and junior Jayla Wesley lead the Chippewas with 43 and 40 blocks, respectively.
As a team, Central Michigan is hitting .150, while its opponents hold a .239 hitting clip.
CMU is under the guidance of third-year head coach Mike Gawlik.
SERIES VS. THE CHIPPEWAS
The Chippewas hold a 20-13 lead over Akron in the all-time series. Last season, the Zips fell at Central Michigan, 3-0 (20-25, 21-25, 21-25). The match this weekend marks the 34rd meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles stand 13-9 overall and 5-3 in MAC play this season. Eastern Michigan will take on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Eagles took Miami to five sets, but ultimately fell, 3-2, before being topped by Bowling Green, 3-1.
EMU is led on offense senior Jordan Smith, who is averaging 3.53 kills per set on a season total of 272 kills. Redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski is averaging 7.74 assists per set, while Riley Taylor holds a team-best 23 service aces.
Senior Alyssa LaFace leads the Eagles with 466 digs (6.05 per set). Sophomore April Houston and redshirt junior Cassie Haut direct the defense at the net with 64 blocks apiece.
As a team, the Eagles are hitting .228, while holding its opponents to a .145 mark.
Eastern Michigan is under the direction of head coach Kim Olson, who has compiled a 38-55 record in three seasons.
SERIES VS. THE EAGLES
The Zips hold a 19-18 edge in the all-time series over Eastern Michigan. A season ago, Akron dropped a 3-1 (15-25, 22-25, 25-23, 16-25) decision to the Eagles. The contest on Saturday will be the 38th encounter between the two programs.
LAST WEEK
Akron fell to both Northern Illinois, 3-0 (22-25, 23-25, 23-25), and Western Michigan, 3-0 (22-25, 19-25, 21-25), on the road last weekend.
At Northern Illinois, Kayla Gwozdz paced the Zips' offense with 13 kills. Sophomore Alexis Adleta recorded nine kills on the night, while freshman Megan Kelly set a new career high with nine kills. Sophomore setter Emily Weigand dished out 37 set assists.
Against Western Michigan, Ashley Richardson recorded 13 kills on a .480 hitting clip for the Zips, while senior Gwozdz had eight kills. Weigand coordinated the Zips' attack with 30 set assists. Additionally, Wiegand added six digs, a service ace and a block. Adleta had a team-best eight digs.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron travels to take on Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. and Miami, Saturday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.
Â
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball2024 Akron Zips Volleyball - Preseason Press Conference - Head Coach Tyson Norton - 08/28/24
Friday, August 23
2024 Akron Zips Volleyball - Preseason Press Conference - Student-Athletes - 08/28/24
Friday, August 23
2023 Akron Zips Volleyball Highlights vs. Central Michigan - 10/6/23
Thursday, October 19
2023 Akron Zips Volleyball Highlights vs. Eastern Michigan - 10/5/23
Thursday, October 19
