Zips Set for Series at Ohio

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron volleyball team (9-12, 3-6 MAC) returns to action this week as the Zips travel to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio University. The Zips will battle the Bobcats on 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, before rounding out the two-match series at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23.

GAME COVERAGE
Akron vs. Ohio| Friday, Oct.22 |7 PM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3E0D3UO
Watch: https://es.pn/2Xx1r0D

Akron vs. Ohio | Saturday, Oct.23 |6 PM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3E0D3UO

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips volleyball team, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Tom Hanna, stand 9-12 overall and 3-6 in conference play after falling to Kent State, 3-0 and 3-2 last week.

Offensively, the Zips are led by a pair of heavy hitters in seniors Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio) and Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) with 216 kills (2.92 per set) and 210 kills (2.88 per set), respectively. Senior Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) and sophomore Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) follow with 137 and 138 total kills. Setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) leads the team with 749 assists (9.25 per set). Weigand leads the squad with a team-best 24 service aces.

Defensively, the Zips have five of players with over 100 digs in senior Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) with 337 digs (4.16 per set) leading the way, followed by Weigand (190), Ochaya (133), Adleta (118), and Lauren Latka (111). Above the net, freshman Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.) holds a team-high 60 blocks, while Kelly and Ochaya have blocked 59 and 54, respectively.

LAST TIME OUT
Akron dropped matches to Kent State (3-0) and 3-2.

After dropping the second and third sets of Saturday's match against Kent State, Akron was able to force a decisive fifth game, but ultimately it was the Flashes who prevailed. The Zips had four players who registered double-digit kills with Jones leading the offense with a career-best 15 kills.

SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats, under 6th-year head coach Geoff Carlston currently sit at 5-15 overall and 5-4 in conference play after a 3-2 victory over Kent State on Wednesday.

Offensively, the Bobcats are led by a pair of heavy hitters in CarolineClippard and Maggie Nedoma with 246 kills (3.24 per set) and 235 kills (3.05 per set), respectively. Olivia Margolies and Caitlin O'Farrell follow with 176 and 162 total kills. Setter Tria McLean leads the team with 677 assists (8.79 per set) while distributing a team-best 16 service aces.

Defensively, the Bobcats have four players with over 100 digs as Sam Steele leads the way with 287 (5.22 per set), followed by Maci Watrous 169 (2.60), McLean with 139 (1.75 per set), and Nedoma with 123 (1.64 per set). Above the net, the Bobcats are led by O'Farrell with 61 blocks.

SERIES VS. OHIO
Ohio leads the all-time series over Akron, 45-25. Ohio has won 22 of the last 23 meetings. The Zips split the series last season falling in the opener, 3-1, before closing out the series with a 3-2 win.

UP NEXT
The Zips will be back on the road for games with Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. Akron will face Central Michigan on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., before heading to Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 30 for a 3 p.m. match.

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Players Mentioned

Alexis Adleta

Faith Johnson

Karleighana Jones

Megan Kelly

Lauren Latka

Teagan Ochaya

Taylor Sharrits

Emily Weigand

The University of Akron Athletics