Game Preview: Zips Host Miami at Home Opener

Thursday, January 28

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Miami

January 27 | Women's Volleyball

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THIS WEEK
After opening the season last week in Muncie, Ind., the Akron Zips women's volleyball team is set to host Miami for their Mid-American Conference home opener on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28-29 at 7 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena. Both matches can be seen on ESPN3 or followed with live stats at GoZips.com.

GAME COVERAGE
ESPN3 Thursday: https://es.pn/3prLAct
ESPN3 Friday: https://es.pn/2YhCH9A
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/3omv8sz

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Zips opened the year in Muncie, Ind. against the reining MAC Tournament Champions Ball State. The Zips fell 3-0 in the opening match and 3-1 in the second match. Akron is 0-2 overall and in MAC play.

Shelby Fulmer leads Akron with 19 kills, while Alexis Adleta and Megan Kelly follow with 15 kills each. Teagan Ochaya rounds out the double-digit kill leaders with 10 put-a-ways. Emily Weigand leads in assists with 41 and Taylor Kuruzovich follows with 33 helpers. Defensively, Taylor Sharrits collected 40 digs followed by Alexis Adleta (23), Weigand (18), Lauren Latka (13) and Kuruzovich (12). Kelly leads the squad's blocking efforts with seven and Hannah Yaconis has a second-best with six blocks. In addition, Faith Johnson and Arianna Barksdale made their collegiate debuts as Johnson recorded nine kills, six digs and three blocks. Barksdale had one kill and one block.

SERIES VS. MIAMI
Miami (OH) leads the all-time series 48-15 over Akron. Last season, the two teams split the series as the Zips won the first match 3-0 (25-22, 25-21 and 25-17) in Oxford on Oct. 5, 2019. The RedHawks answered with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-23) win in Akron on Nov. 8, 2019.

SCOUTING MIAMI
The RedHawks, under 37th-year head coach Carolyn Condit, opened the season with a pair of wins over Buffalo last weekend. The RedHawks earned both victories in three straight sets.

Offensively, the RedHawks have six players with double-digit kills led by Gaby Harper with 15 followed by Allyson Severance (14), Maggie McCrary (12), Avarie Powell (11), Abby Stratford (11) and Sarah Wojick (10). Setters Morgan Seaman and Jennifer Schulze recorded 35 and 28 assists, respectively.

Defensively, libero Abigail Huser leads the way with 21 digs, while Harper and Morgan Seaman tallied 18 and 10. McCrary leads the team with three blocks. Harper and Stratford had two blocks each.

2020-21 West Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7)
2. Ball State — 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan — 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan — 31 points
5. Toledo — 23 points
6. Northern Illinois — 22 points

2020-21 East Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Miami — 62 points (4 first place votes)
2. Bowling Green — 60 points (5)
3. Ohio — 55 points (3)
4. Akron — 28 points
5. Kent State — 24 points
6. Buffalo — 23 points

Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)

MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosario – Martinez, Central Michigan
Franki Strefling, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan

MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigand, Akron
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Gaby Harper, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
The Zips continue conference play next weekend and welcomes Ohio on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 4-5 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. start times. Fans can follow the action by ESPN digital platforms (ESPN3 or ESPN+)

AKRON QUICK HITS

Akron picked fourth in the MAC East.
Last season the Zips advanced to their first MAC Championship appearance since 2012.
Weigand was named preseason All-MAC
Akron is currently 0-0 at home and 0-2 on the road this season.
The Zips' roster consists of 12 returners and 5 newcomers.