The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, September 21
Akron, OH
7 PM
University of Akron
vs
Miami (OH)
Akron Volleyball Hosts Miami and Bowling Green to Open MAC Play
September 20 | Women's Volleyball
Follow Akron Volleyball on Facebook and Twitter
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
Akron opens Mid-American Conference action this weekend as it hosts Miami and Bowling Green.
The Zips will first face Miami on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Jon Horton on play-by-play. On Saturday, Sept. 22, Akron will take on Bowling Green at 5 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Miami
Watch ESPN+
Live Stats
Akron vs. Bowling Green
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 169-200, including 30-66 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 127 kills, while sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) tallies 112 kills. Middle blocker Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .416 and blocks with 26. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .277 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.02 assists per set, while also leading the Zips with 29 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 197 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
SCOUTING MIAMI
The RedHawks enter league play with an 8-4 record in non-conference play. Last weekend, Miami hosted the RedHawk Invitational where they finished 2-0. The RedHawks defeated both Oakland and St. Francis, 3-1.
Miami is led on offense by junior middle hitter Margaret Payne who has a total of 100 kills. Following closely behind her is freshman Gabby Harper and senior Stela Kukoc with 97 and 93 kills, respectively. Setter Morgan Seaman has dished out 251 assists, averaging 5.56 per set.
Kukoc leads the defense with 118 digs, while Seaman has a total of 104 digs. Payne heads the net defense with 49 blocks, averaging 1.07 per set.
The RedHawks are under the direction of head coach Carolyn Condit, who is in her 35th season. Condit has a record of 610-458 at Miami making her the ninth-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I volleyball.
SERIES VS. THE REDHAWKS
Miami leads the all-time series over the Zips, 45-14. A season ago, Akron fell to Miami 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 18-25, 18-25) and 3-0 (24-26, 23-25, 22-25). This weekend marks the 60th meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Danijela Tomic, stand 6-7 so far this season. Bowling Green hosted the BGSU Invitational last weekend where it posted a record of 3-0. The Falcons beat Marshall 3-1, before sweeping both IUPUI and Nicholls State.
Senior outside hitter Isabel Kovacic leads the Falcons with 82 kills, averaging 2.56 per set. Setter Isabelle Marciniak has recorded 302 assists this season, while sophomore Jacqueline Askin holds a team-best 11 service aces.
Defensively, libero Kallie Seimet leads the way for Bowling Green and ranks second in the MAC with 211 digs. Sophomore Katie Kidwell holds a team-high 36 blocks.
SERIES VS. THE FALCONS
Bowling Green leads the all-time series over Akron, 37-20. Last season, Bowling Green topped Akron in both matches, 3-0, by scores of 16-25, 23-25, 19-25 and 14-25, 21-25, 25-27. The match this weekend will be the 58th meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron hosted the Zips Invitational last weekend where it went 2-0 to conclude non-conference play. The Zips defeated Youngstown State, 3-1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-14) before sweeping Bucknell (25-18, 25-18, 25-19).
In the win over Youngstown, Akron was led by Ashley Richardson with 14 kills on an impressive .667 hitting percentage. Senior Kayla Gwozdz recorded 12 kills, while sophomore Shelby Fulmer added 11. Senior defensive specialist Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) added to the offensive efforts, tallying four service aces. Setter Emily Weigand recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 32 assists and 17 digs. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits added a team-high 23 digs.
In Akron's straight-set win over Bucknell, Richardson tied her career high of 15 kills, while also holding a team-best three blocks. Gwozdz added eight kills and two blocks, while Weigand led the Zips with 21 set assists. Sophomore Taylor Kuruzovich (Port Matilda, Pa.), Weigand and Gwozdz each recorded seven digs for Akron.
Richardson and Alexis Adleta were named to the Zips Invitational All-Tournament team.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Akron will travel to take on Kent State, Friday, Sept. 28, and Ohio, Saturday Sept. 29. First serve for both matches will be at 6 p.m.
Â
MATCH NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK
Akron opens Mid-American Conference action this weekend as it hosts Miami and Bowling Green.
The Zips will first face Miami on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Jon Horton on play-by-play. On Saturday, Sept. 22, Akron will take on Bowling Green at 5 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Miami
Watch ESPN+
Live Stats
Akron vs. Bowling Green
Live Stats
ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has a career record of 169-200, including 30-66 at Akron.
Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) leads the Zips' offense with 127 kills, while sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) tallies 112 kills. Middle blocker Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) holds team-bests in hitting percentage with .416 and blocks with 26. Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) is second on the team with a .277 hitting clip.
Sophomore setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) is averaging 7.02 assists per set, while also leading the Zips with 29 service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 197 digs.
AKRON QUICK HITS
- Akron continues to improve under the direction of Tom Hanna as its eight victories are the most wins the Zips have had headed into conference play since 2009 (8-4).
- Sophomore setter Emily Weigand is ranked fifth nationally in total service aces with 29 and sixth with .69 aces per set.
- Junior Ashley Richardson was named MAC East Offensive Player of the week after leading Akron to a 2-0 record versus Youngstown State and Bucknell with 29 kills on a .651 hitting percentage.
- Richardson's .416 hitting percentage this season currently rates 19th in the nation.
- As a team, Akron is ranked ninth in the nation in aces per set (1.90), 23rd in total service aces (80), 57th in winning percentage (.727), and 83rd in assists per set as well as kills per set with 12.40 and 13.29, respectively.
- In the MAC, Akron ranks first in service aces per set (1.90), first in kills per set (13.29), second in assists per set (12.40 ) and fifth in hitting percentage (.221).
- Akron is 4-1 in home matches this season.
- Gwozdz, Richardson and Adleta have posted double-digit kill totals in three of the Zips five home matches.
- Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits has posted double-digit digs in 14 of the last 16 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 77 digs at James A. Rhodes Arena this season, while Weigand has dished out 117 assists on the Zips' home court.
- Akron is 3-0 in five-set matches and 2-1 in four-set matches.
- 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).
SCOUTING MIAMI
The RedHawks enter league play with an 8-4 record in non-conference play. Last weekend, Miami hosted the RedHawk Invitational where they finished 2-0. The RedHawks defeated both Oakland and St. Francis, 3-1.
Miami is led on offense by junior middle hitter Margaret Payne who has a total of 100 kills. Following closely behind her is freshman Gabby Harper and senior Stela Kukoc with 97 and 93 kills, respectively. Setter Morgan Seaman has dished out 251 assists, averaging 5.56 per set.
Kukoc leads the defense with 118 digs, while Seaman has a total of 104 digs. Payne heads the net defense with 49 blocks, averaging 1.07 per set.
The RedHawks are under the direction of head coach Carolyn Condit, who is in her 35th season. Condit has a record of 610-458 at Miami making her the ninth-winningest active coach in NCAA Division I volleyball.
SERIES VS. THE REDHAWKS
Miami leads the all-time series over the Zips, 45-14. A season ago, Akron fell to Miami 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 18-25, 18-25) and 3-0 (24-26, 23-25, 22-25). This weekend marks the 60th meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Danijela Tomic, stand 6-7 so far this season. Bowling Green hosted the BGSU Invitational last weekend where it posted a record of 3-0. The Falcons beat Marshall 3-1, before sweeping both IUPUI and Nicholls State.
Senior outside hitter Isabel Kovacic leads the Falcons with 82 kills, averaging 2.56 per set. Setter Isabelle Marciniak has recorded 302 assists this season, while sophomore Jacqueline Askin holds a team-best 11 service aces.
Defensively, libero Kallie Seimet leads the way for Bowling Green and ranks second in the MAC with 211 digs. Sophomore Katie Kidwell holds a team-high 36 blocks.
SERIES VS. THE FALCONS
Bowling Green leads the all-time series over Akron, 37-20. Last season, Bowling Green topped Akron in both matches, 3-0, by scores of 16-25, 23-25, 19-25 and 14-25, 21-25, 25-27. The match this weekend will be the 58th meeting between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
Akron hosted the Zips Invitational last weekend where it went 2-0 to conclude non-conference play. The Zips defeated Youngstown State, 3-1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-14) before sweeping Bucknell (25-18, 25-18, 25-19).
In the win over Youngstown, Akron was led by Ashley Richardson with 14 kills on an impressive .667 hitting percentage. Senior Kayla Gwozdz recorded 12 kills, while sophomore Shelby Fulmer added 11. Senior defensive specialist Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) added to the offensive efforts, tallying four service aces. Setter Emily Weigand recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 32 assists and 17 digs. Sophomore Taylor Sharrits added a team-high 23 digs.
In Akron's straight-set win over Bucknell, Richardson tied her career high of 15 kills, while also holding a team-best three blocks. Gwozdz added eight kills and two blocks, while Weigand led the Zips with 21 set assists. Sophomore Taylor Kuruzovich (Port Matilda, Pa.), Weigand and Gwozdz each recorded seven digs for Akron.
Richardson and Alexis Adleta were named to the Zips Invitational All-Tournament team.
UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Akron will travel to take on Kent State, Friday, Sept. 28, and Ohio, Saturday Sept. 29. First serve for both matches will be at 6 p.m.
Â
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ 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
