Zips Drop Five-Set Battle to Bowling Green

Saturday, September 22

Akron, Ohio

5 PM

University of Akron

8-5, 0-2MAC

Bowling Green

8-7, 2-0MAC

Bowling Green

Akron

September 22 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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BOX SCORE (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron volleyball team battled Bowling Green to five sets, but ultimately fell, 3-2 (14-25, 25-19, 25-20, 19-25, 15-12), Saturday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips fell to 8-5 overall and 0-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Bowling Green improved to 8-7, 2-0 MAC.

The two teams were nearly equal in hitting percentage with Akron hitting .181, compared to Bowling Green at .180.

Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) led the way for the Zips tallying 17 kills, while middle blocker Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and left side hitter Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) added nine kills apiece. Sophomore setters Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) and Taylor Kuruzovich (Port Matilda, Pa.) dished out 28 and 19 set assists, respectively.

Shining on the defensive side of the ball was sophomore Taylor Sharrits (Condcord, Ohio) who recorded a team-best 16 digs. Adleta and senior Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) added 13 and even digs, respectively. Richardson tied her career high of six blocks, while Gwozdz added four.

Bowling Green started the match with a 5-1 run to take an early lead over the Zips. Akron would come within two, but Bowling Green only continued to build on its lead from there taking the set, 25-14.

The second set started back and forth with neither team holding more than a two-point lead. Bowling Green held a 16-15 edge when a 5-0 run, including a kill by Aldeta and a Sharrits service ace, would give Akron the lead. The Falcons wouldn't get closer than three for the remainder of the set and back-to-back kills by Gwozdz sealed a 25-19 second set victory for the Zips.

Akron carried its momentum into the third set as a service ace by Adleta and kills from Gwozdz and Richardson gave the Zips a 7-3 lead. Bowling Green came back to only trail 9-8 but a series of short runs would build Akron's lead back up to 19-13. The Zips held on to its advantage for the rest of the set, earning a 25-20 win.

The fourth sat tied, 10-10, when a 4-0 run would give Bowling Green the first substantial lead of the set. The Falcons led for the remainder of the set resulting in a 25-19 fourth set win over the Zips to force a fifth set.

Akron was trailing 8-4 into the fifth when kills from Adleta and Gwozdz cut the deficit to two points. Despite a few short runs by the Zips, Bowling Green clung onto its lead. Akron was unable to come back, falling to the Falcons in the final set, 15-12.

Next week Akron will travel to take on Kent State in the first meeting of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. The Zips will continue MAC play on the road as they face Ohio Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.