Akron Volleyball Battles Back from a Two Set Deficit for 3-2 Win Over Toledo

Friday, March 26

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

5-16,5-16MAC

Toledo

6-13,6-13MAC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Toledo	25	25	23	19	12	2
Akron	20	17	25	25	15	3

Akron Volleyball Battles Back from a Two Set Deficit for 3-2 Win Over Toledo

March 27 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Akron Volleyball Battles Back from a Two Set Deficit for 3-2 Win Over Toledo
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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips women's volleyball team fell behind 0-2 and battled back to defeat the Toledo Rockets in five sets, 3-2, by scores of 20-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19 and 15-12 in Mid-American Conference action on Friday night.

The Zips snapped Toledo's three-match winning streak while ending six-consecutive setbacks as senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) unleashed 23 kills to lead Akron's offense. Adleta only landed seven kills in the first two sets and pounded out eight kills on 15 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage in the third set.

Freshman LS/RS Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) followed with five kills on eight attempts for a .625 hitting percentage. The pivotal third set featured eight tied scores and three lead changes as Johnson and Adleta floored back-to-back kills which sparked a 6-2 run and led to a 22-15 Zips' advantage. Adleta added a pair of kills and while junior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio) ended the set with a put-away, 25-23.

Akron controlled the fourth set from the opening tap, sprinting out to a 5-0 advantage on a pair of tandem blocks by junior MB Hannah Yaconis (Batavia, Ill.) and senior setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) and Yaconis and Ochaya. Toledo made two additional hitting errors and Weigand served up an ace to complete the 5-0 run. Akron continued to increase its lead, extending the deficit to seven points at 12-5 and 14-7. The Zips held-on for the 25-19 win, forcing a fifth set.

In the final set, Akron and Toledo traded points, playing to six stalemates and only one lead change. That lead change was early as Toledo floored the first point and Weigand tied the game with a kill, 1-1. The Zips scored the next point on a Toledo hitting error, but the back-and-forth battle lasted until 9-9. Akron reclaimed the lead on an Adleta kill and another UT error gave the Zips their first two-point lead of the set. Akron maintained the lead as Adleta floored the 14^th point and Johnson recorded match point with a kill.

Johnson collected 17 kills on 36 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage while Ochaya accounted for 12 kills and Weigand had six. Weigand finished with a match-high 46 assists and three service aces.

Defensively, Akron posted 10 team blocks as Yaconis was credited for six block assists. Ochaya added four and junior MB Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) had four. Johnson and Weigand had two block assists each, while senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) anchored the ground attack with 28 digs.

Akron will be back in action on Saturday, March 27 at 5 p.m. against Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ or follow via live stats on GoZips.com.