Akron Volleyball Returns Home to Host Ohio and Kent State

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Akron Volleyball Returns Home to Host Ohio and Kent State

THIS WEEK
Akron volleyball returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to begin a four-game homestand. The Zips will face Ohio on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., before taking on Kent State in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge contest on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Ohio
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Akron vs. Kent State
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ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Tom Hanna, own an 11-4 record through 15 matches this season. Akron is currently riding a nine-game winning streak and is 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference after defeating Miami (OH) in straight sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-18).

Senior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) currently leads the Zips with 146 kills and a .364 hitting percentage (first in the MAC), as well as leading the Zips with 42 blocks on defense. Junior Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) is close behind with 143 kills.

Junior setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) leads the team in assists with 531 (9.83 per set, second in the MAC). Defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paces the back-row defense with 226 digs (4.26 per set).

AKRON QUICK HITS

Richardson's .364 hitting percentage this season currently ranks 61^stin the nation and third in the MAC.
As a team, Akron is ranked 38th in the nation in aces per set (1.65).
Weigand currently ranks second in both assists per set (9.83) and service aces per set (.41) in the MAC.
In the MAC, Akron ranks first in opponent assists per set (10.83), first in opponent kills per set (11.70), first in service aces per set (1.63), and second in opponent hitting percentage (.169).

The Zips have earned three MAC East Player of the Week honors this season (Ashley Richardson, Taylor Sharrits, and Emily Weigand).
Akron is currently 4-0 at home and 5-1 on the road this season.
The Zips have a hitting percentage of .213 this season, while holding its opponents to a hitting clip of just .169.
Sharrits has eclipsed nine or more digs in 14 of the Zips' 15 matches this season.
The Zips' roster consists of 12 returners and three newcomers.

SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats, under sixth-year head coach Deane Webb, currently sit at 10-7 (2-2 MAC) on the season. They played a pair of conference matches last week, topping Kent State in straight sets (25-21, 25-16, 25-16), before dropping a match to Eastern Michigan in four (28-26, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21).

Offensively, the Bobcats are led by junior Maggie Nedoma and senior Lizzie Stephens, who currently have 201 and 162 kills, respectively. Junior setter Vera Giacomazzi leads the team with 749 assists and currently leads the MAC in assists per set (11.35 per set).

Defensively, junior libero Macy Reihing leads the way with 299 digs (4.53 per set), while junior middle blocker Tia Jimerson leads the team in blocks with 45.

SERIES VS. OHIO

Ohioleads the all-time series over Akron, 42-24. Last season, the Zips faced Ohio twice, dropping the first contest in straight sets (25-21, 25-14, 25-22), before returning to James A. Rhodes Arena and falling to the Bobcats in the second meeting, 3-1 (25-18, 14-25, 25-11, 26-24).

SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes, under eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, currently sit at 7-9 (0-4 MAC) on the season. They dropped a pair of conference matches last week, falling to Ohio in straight sets (25-21, 25-16, 25-16), before dropping a match to Central Michigan in four (23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-16).

Offensively, the Golden Flashes are led by freshman Savannah Matthews and senior Ashley Makruski, who currently have 149 and 138 kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Alex Haffner leads the team with 429 assists (7.03 per set).

Defensively, sophomore defensive specialist Erin Gardner leads the way with 361 digs (5.92 per set), while freshman opposite Morgan Copley leads the team in blocks with 44.

SERIES VS. KENT STATE

Kent State leads the all-time series over Akron, 46-36. Last season, Akron traveled to Kent State first and dropped a nail-biter, 3-2 (27-25, 30-32, 17-25, 25-18, 15-12). In the second meeting at James A. Rhodes Arena, the Golden Flashes were able to best the Zips again in five sets, (25-21, 19-25, 25-15, 15-25, 15-12).

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
The Crystal Clinic Orthopedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge 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.

For the fourth consecutive year in 2018-19, University of Akron Athletics won the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge, claiming a 7.5 to 6.5 victory over Kent State.

Fans can learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings via

www.WagonWheelChallenge.com.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena for a pair of home matches next weekend. Akron will take on Northern Illinois on Friday, Oct. 18,at 7 p.m., before facing Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 19,at 7 p.m.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Volleyball Returns Home to Host Ohio and Kent State

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