Game Preview: Zips Final Week of Regular season Includes Three Home Matches

Tuesday, March 23

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Buffalo

Game Preview: Zips Final Week of Regular season Includes Three Home Matches

March 23 | Women's Volleyball

Game Preview: Zips Final Week of Regular season Includes Three Home Matches

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THIS WEEK
The Akron women's volleyball wraps-up regular season play with a big week at James A. Rhodes Arena and the Zips host the final three matched of the regular season. On Tuesday, March 23, Akron is slated for a rematch against Buffalo with firs serve set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans can follow the action on the action on the ESPN family of networks or via live stats at GoZips.com.

The Zips will complete the season with a two-match series against the Toledo Rockets. On Friday and Saturday, March 26, the Zips host the Rockets at 7 p.m. followed by the final match of the season on Saturday at 5 p.m. Friday's match will appear on ESPN3, while Saturday's match will be a ESPN+ production. Fans can also follow via live stats on GoZips.com.

GAME COVERAGE
Video: vs. Buffalo – ESPN+ – https://es.pn/3tR7yau
Video: M1 vs. Toledo – ESPN3 – https://es.pn/3tOQOkw
Video: M2 vs. Toledo – ESPN+ – https://es.pn/3fchlnB
Live Stats (All Matches): https://bit.ly/3omv8sz

ABOUT THE ZIPS
Akron is 4-15 overall (4-15 MAC) and opened MAC play at home with a 3-2 win over the Miami RedHawks. Akron followed with a 3-2 win over Ohio, snapping the Bobcats' 22-match winning streak over the Zips. Akron added its third and fourth wins of the season against Eastern Michigan (W 3-1, L 1-3) and Northern Illinois (W 3-0, L 0-3).

Last week, the Zips fell on the road at Buffalo and at Bowling Green, while pushing the undefeated Falcons to the limit in the first match. The Zips two at Western Michigan last weekend (3-1 and 3-0). The Zips fell in a pair of matches to rival Kent State 3-1 and dropped the second match to Miami after taking the first two sets, 2-3. The Zips fell in the series opener to Ohio, 3-1 and opened the season in Muncie, Ind. against Ball State as the Cardinals claimed both matches 3-0 and 3-1.

Alexis Adleta leads the Zips with 249.0 points on a team-high 227 kills (3.15 per set), second-best 210 digs (2.92 per set), 25 blocks and nine service aces. Shelby Fulmer follows with 214.5 points on 176 kills (2.38 per set), 68 digs (0.92 per set), 44 blocks and 16 aces.

Teagan Ochaya and Megan Kelly follow with scoring 156.5 and 150.0 points, respectively. Ochaya recorded 137 kills (1.99 per set), 61 digs and 35 blocks, while Kelly leads the squad in blocking with 75 stops (0.99 per set) and 106 kills (1.39 per set). Jen Durra recorded 129 kills (2.08 per set) for 144.0 points. Emily Weigand leads in assists with 467 for a 6.14 assist per set average, while Taylor Kuruzovich distributed 301 helpers for a 3.96 assists per set total. Weigand leads the MAC in service aces with 40 (0.53 per set).

Defensively, Taylor Sharrits is the league-leader with 452 digs (5.95 dig/s) followed by Adleta (210, 2.92 dig/s), Weigand (162, 2.13 dig/s), Kuruzovich (112, 1.47 dig/s), Durra (101, 1.63 dig/s) and Lauren Latka (95, 1.28 dig/s). In addition, Kelly and Hannah Yaconis combine for 120 of the team's 141.5 blocks.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice this season on 3/15/21 and 3/1/21. Sharrits earned her second weekly award after a pair of matches against Western Michigan on March 12-13. She recorded 65 total digs, averaging 9.29 per set. She added seven assists and two service aces in a pair of setbacks to western division leaders. In the first match against the Broncos, a five-set thriller, Sharrits posted 38 digs, averaging 9.5 digs per set. She issued both service aces and had five assists in the 3-1 setback. In the second match, Sharrits had 27 digs with a 9.0 dig per set average and two assists as the Zips fell 3-0. Sharrits claimed her first MAC honor after she anchored the Zips' defense in a pair of matches at Central Michigan on Feb. 25-26. She recorded 50 total digs, averaging 5.56 per set. Sharrits added 25 receptions with a perfect 1.000 receiving percentage, four assists and one service ace. In the first match against the Chippewas, a five-set thriller, Sharrits posted 33 digs, three assists and an ace as the Zips fell 3-2. Sharrits led the squad again in the second match with 17 digs and an assist in a 3-1 setback. In addition, Sharrits recorded 30-plus digs in three consecutive matches as she posted back-to-back 33 and 34 dig performances against Eastern Michigan, Feb. 18-19. The Zips split that series 1-1 as Sharrits collected 67 digs, averaging 8.38 digs per set.

Senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) was named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (3/8/21). Adleta led Akron to a series split against Northern Illinois on the road on March 4-5. For the week, Adleta recorded 33 kills on 63 attempts with just nine miscues for a .381 hitting percentage. She added 18 digs and four blocks for 35.0 total points. She averaged 5.5 kills per set. The Zips claimed the second match of the series behind a spectacular performance by Adleta as she floored 18 kills on 31 attempts with only two errors for a .516 hitting percentage. She added a perfect receiving performance, completing 23 attempts while adding six digs and three block assists. The Zips claimed the match 3-0 by scores of 25-23, 25-17 and 26-24. In the series opener, Adleta collected 15 kills on 32 attempts with seven errors for a .250 hitting percentage. She added 12 digs and a block. The Zips fell 3-0 by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-20.

SCOUTING BULLS
The Bulls currently sit at 3-16 (3-16 MAC) on the season, and defeated the Zips 3-0 last Tuesday at Alumni Arena. Emma Gielas and Milla Malik lead the team's offensive efforts with 198 kills (2.91 per set) and 184 kills (3.68 per set). Kyndal Bacon provides the majority of assists with 573 (8.43 per set) and owns a team-best 142 digs (2.09 per set), while Paige Beck issued a team-high 14 service aces.

Defensively, the Bulls has two players with over 100 digs as Malik follows Bacon's (142 digs, 2.09 per set) with 188 digs (2.36 per set). Above the net, the Bulls 194 total blocks are led by Courtney Okwara (47), followed by Lexi Nordmann (45) and Gielas (29).

SERIES VS. BULLS
Akron leads the all-time series over Buffalo, 30-19 as Buffalo won the opening match this season and has won three-straight matches against the Zips. The two teams split the series last season with both teams winning on the road. Akron defeated the Bulls 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 27-29, 24-26, 15-0) in the first meeting at Alumni Arena and fell at home 3-2 by scores of 28-30, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 9-15)). In addition, The Bull defeated the Zips 3-0 in the MAC Tournament (25-15, 25-20, 25-21). Buffalo

SCOUTING TOLEDO

The Rockets, under third-year head coach Jason Oliver, currently sit at 5-12 (5-12 MAC).

Offensively, the Rockets are led by Taylor Alt with 237 kills (3.82 per set) Olivia Vance and Chloee Kleespies follow with 127 kills (2.08 per set) and 121kills (1.92 per set). Setter Payton Morman leads the team with 605 assists (10.08 per set). Rhyen Neal distributed a team-best 27 service aces.

Defensively, the Rockets have three players with over 100 digs as Ryann Jaqua leads the way with 297 (4.43 per set), followed by Neal with 177 (2.60 per set) and Alt with 123 (1.98 per set). Above the net, the Rockets own 166.5 of the team's 141 blocks followed by Rhyenne Filisi (47, 0.85 per set), Kleespies (38, 0.60 per set) and Alt (32, 0.52 per set).

SERIES VS. TOLEDO
Toledo leads the all-time series over Akron, 29-25. Last season, the Zips defeated the Rockets 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21) at Savage Arena. In 2018, Akron topped Toledo in a five-set thriller (25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11) at home. Akron has won the last two matches against Toledo.

AKRON QUICK HITS

Emily Weigand leads the MAC in service aces (40, 0.53 per set)
Taylor Sharrits leads the MAC in digs (452, 5.95 per set)
Taylor Sharrits Earns Second MAC Defensive Player of the Week (3/15/21)
Alexis Adleta Named MAC Offensive Player of the Week (3/8/21)
Taylor Sharrits Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week (3/1/21)
Akron ranks No. 1 in MAC in Service Aces with 72 aces in 47 sets for a 1.53 average per set.
The Zips offensive attack is led by Alexis Adleta, 122 kills (2.49 per set), and Shelby Fulmer 124 kills (2.43 per set).
Akron snapped Ohio's 22-match winning streak with a 3-2 win on Senior Night (2/5/21)
The Zips defeated Ohio by scores of (15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 14-25, 15-7)
The Zips posted their first win of the season and first league win against Miami in the home opener 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 15-8) on Thur. Jan. 28, 2021
Weigand used nine consecutive serves to fuel a comeback in set two as the Zips eventually won the set 25-23 against Maimi (1/28)
Akron is currently 3-3 at home 0-6 on the season
Faith Johnson and Arianna Barksdale made their collegiate debuts against Ball State Jan. 22-23. Johnson recorded nine kills, six digs and three blocks. Barksdale had one kill and one block.
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
The Zips' roster consists of 12 returners and 5 newcomers.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
The Zips have three matches next week, all at James A. Rhodes Arena. First Akron is scheduled for a rematch against Buffalo on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. followed by a weekend series against the Toledo on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27 at 7 and 5 p.m., respectively. Fans can follow the action on the ESPN family of networks or via live stats at GoZips.com.