The University of Akron Athletics
Thursday, October 4
Akron, OH
7 PM
University of Akron
vs
Buffalo
Volleyball Set to Host Buffalo and Toledo This Week
October 03 | Women's Volleyball
Follow Akron Volleyball on Facebook and Twitter
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns home to host Buffalo and Toledo. The Zips continue Mid-American Conference action taking on Buffalo on Thursday, Oct. 4, and Toledo, Saturday, Oct. 6. First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m.
The match against the Bulls will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Jon Horton (color) calling the match.
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 169-204, including 30-70 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 176 kills, while sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) and junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) are tied with 136 kills. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .331 and blocks with 36. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .243 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 6.78 assists per set, while also leading the Zips with 31 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 268 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls are now 10-6 overall and 2-2 in MAC play. Last weekend, Buffalo went 2-0 on the road, defeating Ohio and Kent State, both by scores of 3-2.
Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic leads the Bulls and the MAC with 255 kills, averaging 4.32 kills per set. Junior Scout McLerran has dished out 384 set assists, while freshman Paige Beck has accumulated a team-best 20 service aces.
Senior defensive specialist Larra Bickelhaupt is directing the defensive efforts with 230 digs (3.71 per set). A pair of middle blockers in junior Kristina Nieves and senior Megan Wernette lead at the net with 58 and 51 blocks, respectively.
The Bulls are under the guidance of head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz, who has led Buffalo to a 26-60 record in three seasons.
SERIES VS. THE BULLS
Akron leads the all-time series over Buffalo, 28-15. The Zips have gone 1-1 against the Bulls in each of the three seasons under the direction of Hanna. A season ago, Akron defeated Buffalo, 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 27-25) before falling later in the season, 3-1 (21-25, 15-25, 25-19, 20-25). Thursday marks the 44th meeting between the two programs.
SCOUTING TOLEDO
The Rockets stand 7-8 overall and 2-2 in MAC matches this season. Toledo will take on Ball State before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Rockets defeated Central Michigan in straight-sets before falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-0.
Toledo is led on offense by a pair of hitters in sophomore Chloee Kleespies and junior Zoe Birnbrich who have season totals of 187 and 176 kills, respectively. Senior Carly Townsend has recorded 435 assists, averaging 9.26 assists per set.
Senior libero Maurissa Leonard holds team-best of 346 digs (5.97 per set) and 16 service aces. Birnbrich lead the Rockets with 53 total blocks.
Toledo is under the direction of first-year head coach, Jason Oliver.
SERIES VS. THE ROCKETS
Toledo holds a 28-24 edge on the all-time series over Akron. Last season, the Zips dropped a 3-2 decision to Toledo by scores of 25-14, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 9-15. The match this weekend will be the 53rd meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron went 0-2 on the road last weekend falling to Kent State, 3-2 (25-27, 32-30, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15), and Ohio, 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 22-25).
In the five-set thriller against Kent State, senior Kayla Gwozdz led the way for Akron with a season-high 20 kills on a season-best hitting clip of .300. Sophomores Shelby Fulmer and Alexis Adleta added 12 and nine kills, respectively. Freshman Megan Kelly posted new career highs of two service aces and three blocks. Sophomore Emily Weigand paced the Zips with 34 assists. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits recorded 31 digs, just one did shy of tying her career high of 32 digs.
Against Ohio, the Zips were led on offense for the second night in a row by Gwozdz with 10 kills, while junior Elya Karsner (Frankfort, Ky.) followed with eight kills. Weigand recorded a double-double of 21 assists and 12 digs, while Sharrits led with 17 digs.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron travels to take on Northern Illinois, Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. (EST) and Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. at 7 p.m. The Zips' match against Northern Illinois will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Â
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns home to host Buffalo and Toledo. The Zips continue Mid-American Conference action taking on Buffalo on Thursday, Oct. 4, and Toledo, Saturday, Oct. 6. First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m.
The match against the Bulls will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon (play-by-play) and Jon Horton (color) calling the match.
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 169-204, including 30-70 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 176 kills, while sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) and junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) are tied with 136 kills. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .331 and blocks with 36. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .243 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 6.78 assists per set, while also leading the Zips with 31 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 268 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
- Sophomore setter Emily Weigand is ranked 13th nationally in service aces per set (0.53) and 14th in total service aces (31).
- As a team, Akron is ranked 41st in the nation in aces per set (1.60) and 50th in total service aces (93).
- In the MAC, Akron ranks first in service aces per set (1.60), third in assists per set (11.88 ), fifth in kills per set (12.64) and sixth in hitting percentage (.205).
- Akron is 4-3 in home matches this season.
- The Zips have a hitting percentage of .205 this season, while their opponents are hitting .206.
- Gwozdz has posted double-digit kill totals in 12 of the Zips' 15 matches, including season-high 20 kills at Kent State, Sept. 28.
- Weigand has recorded six double-doubles this season.
- Akron is 3-2 in five-set matches and 2-1 in four-set matches.
- Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits has posted double-digit digs in 17 of the last 20 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.
- Sharrits has recorded 100 digs at James A. Rhodes Arena this season, while Weigand has dished
- out 160 assists on the Zips' home court.
- 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 BUFFALO
The Bulls are now 10-6 overall and 2-2 in MAC play. Last weekend, Buffalo went 2-0 on the road, defeating Ohio and Kent State, both by scores of 3-2.
Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic leads the Bulls and the MAC with 255 kills, averaging 4.32 kills per set. Junior Scout McLerran has dished out 384 set assists, while freshman Paige Beck has accumulated a team-best 20 service aces.
Senior defensive specialist Larra Bickelhaupt is directing the defensive efforts with 230 digs (3.71 per set). A pair of middle blockers in junior Kristina Nieves and senior Megan Wernette lead at the net with 58 and 51 blocks, respectively.
The Bulls are under the guidance of head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz, who has led Buffalo to a 26-60 record in three seasons.
SERIES VS. THE BULLS
Akron leads the all-time series over Buffalo, 28-15. The Zips have gone 1-1 against the Bulls in each of the three seasons under the direction of Hanna. A season ago, Akron defeated Buffalo, 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 27-25) before falling later in the season, 3-1 (21-25, 15-25, 25-19, 20-25). Thursday marks the 44th meeting between the two programs.
SCOUTING TOLEDO
The Rockets stand 7-8 overall and 2-2 in MAC matches this season. Toledo will take on Ball State before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Rockets defeated Central Michigan in straight-sets before falling to Eastern Michigan, 3-0.
Toledo is led on offense by a pair of hitters in sophomore Chloee Kleespies and junior Zoe Birnbrich who have season totals of 187 and 176 kills, respectively. Senior Carly Townsend has recorded 435 assists, averaging 9.26 assists per set.
Senior libero Maurissa Leonard holds team-best of 346 digs (5.97 per set) and 16 service aces. Birnbrich lead the Rockets with 53 total blocks.
Toledo is under the direction of first-year head coach, Jason Oliver.
SERIES VS. THE ROCKETS
Toledo holds a 28-24 edge on the all-time series over Akron. Last season, the Zips dropped a 3-2 decision to Toledo by scores of 25-14, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 9-15. The match this weekend will be the 53rd meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron went 0-2 on the road last weekend falling to Kent State, 3-2 (25-27, 32-30, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15), and Ohio, 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 22-25).
In the five-set thriller against Kent State, senior Kayla Gwozdz led the way for Akron with a season-high 20 kills on a season-best hitting clip of .300. Sophomores Shelby Fulmer and Alexis Adleta added 12 and nine kills, respectively. Freshman Megan Kelly posted new career highs of two service aces and three blocks. Sophomore Emily Weigand paced the Zips with 34 assists. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits recorded 31 digs, just one did shy of tying her career high of 32 digs.
Against Ohio, the Zips were led on offense for the second night in a row by Gwozdz with 10 kills, while junior Elya Karsner (Frankfort, Ky.) followed with eight kills. Weigand recorded a double-double of 21 assists and 12 digs, while Sharrits led with 17 digs.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron travels to take on Northern Illinois, Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. (EST) and Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. at 7 p.m. The Zips' match against Northern Illinois will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Â
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
LS
/ 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
