Zips Set for Matches with Buffalo and Kent State

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron volleyball team (8-10, 2-4 MAC) will begin a busy stretch of three matches in four days on the road with Buffalo before hosting rival Kent State. The Zips will face Buffalo on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at Alumni Arena. Akron will return home to host Kent State for a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge matchup on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.

GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Buffalo Wednesday, Oct.13 |6 PM
Live Stats: https://ubbulls.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPddMdeJB8

Akron vs. Kent State | Friday, Oct.15 |7 PM
Live Stats: https://gozips.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
ESPN3: https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/625c0a37-f066-4dc8-829c-0f9eb5960ab6
Tickets: Single Game Tickets

Akron vs. Kent State | Saturday, Oct. 16 | 5 PM
Live Stats: https://gozips.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Watch: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=0d703f9e-92bb-464f-ac54-cb0a9cf34f24
Tickets: Single Game Tickets

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips volleyball team, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Tom Hanna, stand 8-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play after falling to Ball State, 3-0, and Toledo, 3-0.

Offensively, the Zips are led by a pair of heavy hitters in seniors Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio) and Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) with 187 kills (2.97 per set) and 171 kills (2.80 per set), respectively. Senior Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) and sophomore Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) follow with 124 and 11 total kills. Setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) leads the team with 621 assists (8.98 per set). Weigand18 leads the squad with a team-best 14 service aces.

Defensively, the Zips have a duo of players with over 100 digs in senior Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) with 275 digs, and Weigand with 164. Above the net, Kelly holds a team-high 52 blocks, while freshman Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.) and Ochaya have blocked 48 and 41, respectively.

LAST TIME OUT
Akron dropped matches to Ball State (3-0) and Toledo (3-0)

Against Ball State, Senior Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) followed Johnson's performance with eight kills, while senior Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) registered six kills. Senior Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) led the Zips with 28 assists and a match-high three service aces.
In the match against Toledo, Adleta and Genevieve Hara (Imperial Beach, Calif.) led the Zips' offensive efforts with seven kills each. Hara's seven kills was a career best.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls, under 3rd-year head coach Scott Smith currently sit at 9-9 overall and 2-4 in conference play after falling to Ball State, 3-2.

Offensively, the Bulls are led by a pair of heavy hitters in Milla Malik and Courtney Okwara with 248 kills (3.59 per set) and 154 kills (2.30 per set), respectively. Maria Futey and Emma Gielas follow with 137 and 127 total kills. Setter Mandy Leigh leads the team with 673 assists (9.75 per set) while distributing a team-best 30 service aces.

Defensively, the Bulls have four players with over 100 digs as Futey leads the way with 188 (2.72 per set), followed by Hannah Jacoby 177 (3.28), Mandy Leigh with 169 (2.45 per set), Wielonski with 163(2.63 per set) and Kyndal Bacon with 163 (2.36 per set). Above the net, the Bulls are led by Courtney Okwara in total blocks with 53.

SERIES VS. BUFFALO
Akron leads the all-time series over Buffalo, 30-20 as Buffalo has won four-straight matches against the Zips. Buffalo swept the series last season with scores of 3-0 and 3-1.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Flashes, under 10^th-year head coach Don Gromala, stand 7-11 overall and 2-4 in league play after a 3-1 victory against Eastern Michigan.

Offensively, the Flashes are led by a duo of hitters in Savannah Matthews and Melissa Kolurbasi 203 (3.22 per set) and 184 (2.71 per set), respectively. Danie Tyson follows with 147 kills (2.13 per set). Setter Alex Haffner leads the team with 670 assists (9.71), while leading the squad with 17 service aces.

Defensively, the Flashes have five players with over 100 digs as Bryn Roberts leads the way with 242 (3.51 per set), followed by Hafner (154), Savannah Matthews (149), Gracey Jarecke (117), and Erin Gardner (114). Above the net, Tyson and Ainsley Guse lead the team with 67 and 63 blocks, respectively.

SERIES VS. KENT STATE
Kent State leads the all-time series over Akron, 48-36. Last season, Akron traveled to Kent State and dropped a 3-1 decision for both matches.

CRYSTAL CLINIC ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE:
A full-point in the 15-sport Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge will be on the line when Akron battles Kent State this weekend with the winner of each match garnering a 0.5 point. The rivalry series between the Zips and Golden Flashes 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. Kent State took the challenge last season with a final score of 7.0-6.0.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 15 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit:
www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

UP NEXT
The Zips will be back on the road for a series with Ohio. Akron will take on the Bobcats on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., before closing out the series with them on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Zips Set for Matches with Buffalo and Kent State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexis Adleta

Genevieve Hara

Faith Johnson

Karleighana Jones

Megan Kelly

Teagan Ochaya

Taylor Sharrits

Emily Weigand

The University of Akron Athletics