The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, November 2
Akron, OH
7 PM
University of Akron
vs
Ohio
Akron Volleyball Prepped for Final Homestand against Ohio and Kent State
November 01 | Women's Volleyball
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MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to host its final two home matches of the season. The Zips will face Ohio on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. before taking on Kent State in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge contest, Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m.
The Zips' contest against Ohio will be broadcast on ESPN3, with John Horton (play-by-play)Â and Chad Welker (color) calling the match.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Ohio
Watch on ESPN3
Live Stats
Akron vs. Kent State
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 172-209, including, 33-75 mark at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 261 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 206 and 174 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .324 and blocks with 59.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.57 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and ranking second in the MAC with 43 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 397 digs.
ZIPS TO HONOR TWO SENIORS
Akron will honor its two seniors after the match against Kent State on Saturday.
Kayla Gwozdz has played in 97 matches in her four years at Akron. The two-time captain has accumulated 852 kills, 380 digs and 928.5 points.
Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio)Â has appeared in 91 matches during her career playing for the Zips. The team captain has tallied 610 digs, 92 service aces and 54 assists.
CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Akron hosts Kent State on Saturday in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The 14-sport rivalry series between Akron and Kent State is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game.
Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings.
The Zips are leading the challenge, 3.0-1.5.
To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit: www.WagonWheelChallenge.com
AKRON QUICK HITS
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats stand 11-14 overall and 6-6 in MAC matches on the campaign. Last weekend, Ohio recorded a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-17) win over Kent State before taking down Eastern Michigan in straight sets, 25-14, 27-25, 25-13.
Redshirt senior outside hitter Jaime Kosiorek paces the Bobcats with 281 kills, averaging 2.96 per set. Sophomore setter Vera Giacomazzi has recorded 843 assists this season, while Kosiorek holds a team- and MAC-best 48 service aces.
Defensively, sophomore Macy Reihing leads the way for Ohio with 426 digs, while redshirt junior Simone Miller paces the Bobcats and ranks first in the MAC with 83 total blocks.
Deane Webb is in his fifth season as head coach of the Ohio volleyball program with a record of 81-43. Webb owns an overall career markof 451-259 over 21 seasons.
SERIES VS. THE BOBCATS
Ohio leads the all-time series over the Zips, 40-25. Ohio topped Akron earlier this season, 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22) on Sept. 29. The match this weekend will be the 66th meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes are 12-14 overall and 5-7 in MAC play. Kent State takes on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Golden Flashes fell to Ohio 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 22-25) before defeating Central Michigan, 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10)
Kent State is led on offense by freshman Danie Tyson and senior Amy Kober who have season totals of 206 and 193 kills, respectively. Redshirt freshman setter Alex Haffner is averaging 9.05 assists per set on 742 total assists. Freshman Erin Gardner holds a team-best 29 service aces.
Gardner is also leading the defensive efforts with 466 digs (4.91 per set). Junior middle blocker Myla King and Tyson share a team-best of 55 blocks apiece.
The Golden Flashes are under the direction of head coach Don Gromala, who has led Kent State to a 75-101 record in six seasons.
SERIES VS. THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State leads the all time series with Akron, 45-36. Earlier this season, Kent State bested Akron in a close 3-2 (25-27, 32-30, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15) match on Sept. 28. The encounter this weekend will mark the 82nd meeting between the two programs.
LAST WEEK
Akron dropped a pair of three-set matches to Bowling Green (16-25, 17-25, 19-25) and Miami (18-25, 16-25, 19-25).
Akron was led on offense by senior Kayla Gwozdz with eight kills. Sophomore setter Emily Weigand recorded 19 set assists, while also posting four blocks and one service ace. On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Taylor Sharrits paced the Zips with 14 digs, while Alexis Adleta added 12 digs. Junior Ashley Richardson led Akron with six total blocks.
Against Miami, Richardson paced the Zips with nine kills, while Gwozdz and Megan Kelly added four kills apiece. Richardson also held a team-best hitting clip at .368. Weigand recorded 19 assists and six digs. Sharrits and Adleta tallied 10 digs each for Akron.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron closes out its regular season on the road at Buffalo, Thursday, Nov. 8, and at Ball State on Saturday, Nov. 10. First serve for both matches are set for 7 p.m. The Zips' match at Buffalo will be broadcast on ESPN3, while the contest at Ball State will air live on ESPN+.
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MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to host its final two home matches of the season. The Zips will face Ohio on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. before taking on Kent State in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge contest, Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m.
The Zips' contest against Ohio will be broadcast on ESPN3, with John Horton (play-by-play)Â and Chad Welker (color) calling the match.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Ohio
Watch on ESPN3
Live Stats
Akron vs. Kent State
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 172-209, including, 33-75 mark at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 261 kills, while junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) have recorded 206 and 174 kills, respectively. Richardson holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .324 and blocks with 59.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.57 assists per set, while also leading the Zips and ranking second in the MAC with 43 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 397 digs.
ZIPS TO HONOR TWO SENIORS
Akron will honor its two seniors after the match against Kent State on Saturday.
Kayla Gwozdz has played in 97 matches in her four years at Akron. The two-time captain has accumulated 852 kills, 380 digs and 928.5 points.
Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio)Â has appeared in 91 matches during her career playing for the Zips. The team captain has tallied 610 digs, 92 service aces and 54 assists.
CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Akron hosts Kent State on Saturday in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The 14-sport rivalry series between Akron and Kent State is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game.
Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings.
The Zips are leading the challenge, 3.0-1.5.
To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit: www.WagonWheelChallenge.com
AKRON QUICK HITS
- Akron continues to improve under the guidance of Tom Hanna as its 11 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 service aces per set (0.50) and 12th in total service aces (43).
- As a team, Akron is ranked 66th in the nation in aces per set (1.48) and 88th in total service aces (127).
- In the MAC, Akron is tied for second in service aces per set (1.48), sixth in assists (11.56), and in kills per set (12.50)Â and seventh in hitting percentage (.200).
- The Zips have earned three MAC East Player of the Week honors this season (Taylor Sharrits, Ashley Richardson and Kayla Gwozdz).
- Akron is 7-4 in home matches this season.
- Sharrits has recorded 181 digs at James A. Rhodes Arena this season, while Weigand has dished out 313 assists on the Zips' home court.
- The Zips have a hitting percentage of .200, while its opponents hold a hitting clip of .218.
- All three of the Zips' conference wins have occurred on their home court.
- Gwozdz has posted double-digit kill totals in 15 of the Zips' 23 matches, including season-high 20 kills at Kent State, Sept. 28.
- Weigand posted career best 57 set assists against Central Michigan on Oct. 19.
- Ashley Richardson recorded her 100th career block at Western Michigan on Oct. 13
- Akron is 5-2 in five-set matches and 2-1 in four-set matches.
- Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits has posted double-digit digs in 24 of the last 28 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 OHIO
The Bobcats stand 11-14 overall and 6-6 in MAC matches on the campaign. Last weekend, Ohio recorded a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-17) win over Kent State before taking down Eastern Michigan in straight sets, 25-14, 27-25, 25-13.
Redshirt senior outside hitter Jaime Kosiorek paces the Bobcats with 281 kills, averaging 2.96 per set. Sophomore setter Vera Giacomazzi has recorded 843 assists this season, while Kosiorek holds a team- and MAC-best 48 service aces.
Defensively, sophomore Macy Reihing leads the way for Ohio with 426 digs, while redshirt junior Simone Miller paces the Bobcats and ranks first in the MAC with 83 total blocks.
Deane Webb is in his fifth season as head coach of the Ohio volleyball program with a record of 81-43. Webb owns an overall career markof 451-259 over 21 seasons.
SERIES VS. THE BOBCATS
Ohio leads the all-time series over the Zips, 40-25. Ohio topped Akron earlier this season, 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22) on Sept. 29. The match this weekend will be the 66th meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes are 12-14 overall and 5-7 in MAC play. Kent State takes on Buffalo before facing the Zips. Last weekend, the Golden Flashes fell to Ohio 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 22-25) before defeating Central Michigan, 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10)
Kent State is led on offense by freshman Danie Tyson and senior Amy Kober who have season totals of 206 and 193 kills, respectively. Redshirt freshman setter Alex Haffner is averaging 9.05 assists per set on 742 total assists. Freshman Erin Gardner holds a team-best 29 service aces.
Gardner is also leading the defensive efforts with 466 digs (4.91 per set). Junior middle blocker Myla King and Tyson share a team-best of 55 blocks apiece.
The Golden Flashes are under the direction of head coach Don Gromala, who has led Kent State to a 75-101 record in six seasons.
SERIES VS. THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State leads the all time series with Akron, 45-36. Earlier this season, Kent State bested Akron in a close 3-2 (25-27, 32-30, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15) match on Sept. 28. The encounter this weekend will mark the 82nd meeting between the two programs.
LAST WEEK
Akron dropped a pair of three-set matches to Bowling Green (16-25, 17-25, 19-25) and Miami (18-25, 16-25, 19-25).
Akron was led on offense by senior Kayla Gwozdz with eight kills. Sophomore setter Emily Weigand recorded 19 set assists, while also posting four blocks and one service ace. On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Taylor Sharrits paced the Zips with 14 digs, while Alexis Adleta added 12 digs. Junior Ashley Richardson led Akron with six total blocks.
Against Miami, Richardson paced the Zips with nine kills, while Gwozdz and Megan Kelly added four kills apiece. Richardson also held a team-best hitting clip at .368. Weigand recorded 19 assists and six digs. Sharrits and Adleta tallied 10 digs each for Akron.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Next weekend, Akron closes out its regular season on the road at Buffalo, Thursday, Nov. 8, and at Ball State on Saturday, Nov. 10. First serve for both matches are set for 7 p.m. The Zips' match at Buffalo will be broadcast on ESPN3, while the contest at Ball State will air live on ESPN+.
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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
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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