Akron Volleyball Concludes Regular Season with Four-Set Loss to Ohio

Saturday, November 16

Athens, OH

5 PM

University of Akron

16-11,9-7MAC

Ohio

17-12,9-7MAC

Akron

Ohio

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Akron Volleyball Concludes Regular Season with Four-Set Loss to Ohio

November 16 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio – Akron volleyball concluded regular season play on Saturday evening, falling to Ohio in four sets.

With the loss, Akron concludes the season at 16-11 (9-7 MAC), while concludes at 17-12 (9-7 MAC), passing Akron in the MAC standings.

"We had a lot of positive things happen tonight. Unfortunately, we couldn't string enough of them together in the final three sets, particularly set two, to come home with a win. We're excited to enter tournament play for the first time in seven years as a program and I'm confident that we'll take the opportunity and put ourselves in the best position to win this thing" said head coach Tom Hanna.

Leading the way offensively was junior Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) and senior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio), who finished with 16 and 12 kills, respectively. Junior setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) dished out 39 assists while adding 4 blocks and two aces.

Defensively, junior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) paced the back row with 26 digs, while Weigand also added 20 digs.

The first set saw a lot of back and forth action, as there were nine ties. The point differential did not grow larger than two, until late in the set when Akron trailed 21-19; the Zips were able to close off the set with a six-point run, kicked off with three consecutive kills by Adleta and ended with an ace by Weigand.

The Zips got off to a strong start in the second set, gaining a 17-12 lead halfway through the set. The Bobcats responded well by seven of the next nine points, tying the set at 19. Both teams struggled to put a run together from that point, as there were six ties, leading to extra points. Unfortunately, Ohio was able to pull away late, taking the final two points and the set, 29-27.

The Bobcats gained a 21-16 lead late in the third set until the Zips cut the deficit to two, thanks to two kills by Richardson, an ace by Karsner and an error by the opponent. Ohio, however, was able to hold onto its lead and take the third set, 25-21.

Akron struggled to find its groove in the fourth set, trailing 14-6 just after the midway point. They would not go down without a fight, as a late kill and ace by Richardson cut the deficit to 23-21. The Bobcats held took the final two points which clinched the set and the match.

The Zips will be competing in the Mid-American Conference playoffs, as they will be taking on the winner of Kent State/Buffalo tonight.