Zips Fall to Buffalo in Five-Set Battle

Thursday, October 31

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

15-7,8-3MAC

Buffalo

9-14,5-6MAC

Buffalo

Akron

October 31 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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Box Score (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – Akron volleyball fell to Buffalo, 3-2 (30-28, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-9) Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

With the loss, Akron falls to 15-7 (8-3 MAC), while Buffalo improves to 9-14 (5-6 MAC).

"We had our opportunities tonight and unfortunately we didn't handle them as well as we're capable of and as we have of late. We've been able to bounce back from the few losses we've had this year and look forward to seeing what we do on Saturday" said head coach Tom Hanna.

Leading the way offensively was junior Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) and senior Elya Karsner (Frankfort, Ky.) who finished with 20 and 18 kills, respectively. Junior setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) dished out 58 assists while adding five kills of her own.

Defensively, junior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paced the back row with 23 digs, while senior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) and Weigand finished with 5 blocks a-piece.

The match was filled with action from the get-go, as the first set saw 14 ties throughout. The Zips got up 3-0 early, thanks to kills by Richardson and Karsner, as well as an error by the Bulls. After trailing by two, Akron was able to tie the match at 15, thanks to a three-point run, capped off with a block by sophomore Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) and Weigand.

The Zips later re-took the lead thanks to four consecutive points, which included two kills, a block and was capped off with an ace by Adleta, putting Akron ahead 20-17. Buffalo, however, ultimately came out on top, taking the first set 30-28.

Akron got out to a hot start early in the second set, as a six-point run gave Akron a 10-4 lead. The lead later extended to 16-8, capped off with an ace by junior Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio). Buffalo, however, put up a strong fight as it fought back and tied the match at 21.

The Zips were able to hold on, thanks to an attack error by the Bulls which clinched the second set for the Zips, 25-22.

The third set followed suit of the first two, as there were nine ties throughout. The Zips were tied at the midway point (13-13), until Buffalo took four of the next five points, taking the lead 17-14. Another three-point run later in the set propelled Buffalo to take the third set, 25-22.

Akron was able to take the fourth set, thanks to a late three-point run which included kills by Richardson and Karsner, and was later capped off with a block by Kelly and Weigand.

The fifth set saw back-and-forth action early, until a four-point run by the Bulls put them ahead 10-5. The Zips were able to put up a good fight, however it proved not enough as they dropped the final set, 15-9.

The Zips will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 2 as they hit the road to take on Toledo at 5 p.m.