Tournament Preview: Akron Volleyball Opens Season at the YSU/DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational

Friday, August 27

Youngstown, Ohio

2 PM

University of Akron

Saint Francis (PA)

Tournament Preview: Akron Volleyball Opens Season at the YSU/DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational

August 26 | Women's Volleyball

Akron Volleyball Opens Season at the YSU/DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational
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THIS WEEK
The University of Akron volleyball team opens the 2021 season with three matches at the Youngstown State/DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28 at the Beeghly Center.

On Friday, the Zips are scheduled to play a pair of matches, starting with the season opener against St. Francis (PA) at 2 p.m. followed by match against the Penguins at 7 p.m. Akron's lone match on Saturday is against Duquesne at noon. The match against YSU will be broadcasted on ESPN+ while the St. Francis and Duquesne matches can be viewed on YouTube.com/YSUsports. Fans can also follow the action via live stats on GoZips.com.

NOTE: The invitational is open to the public. In accordance with Youngstown State University protocols, YSU will require face coverings for all fans, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public settings on campus.

GAME COVERAGE
YSU Tournament Central: https://bit.ly/3sVRuVR

Akron vs. St. Francis
YouTube.com/YSUsports: https://bit.ly/3jgq1Lp
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2WlIUUa

Akron vs. Youngstown State
ESPN+ : https://es.pn/3BaTYCL
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3DkUjV5

Akron vs. Duquesne
YouTube.com/YSUsports: https://bit.ly/2WnlOfS
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3kqdLqY

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips volleyball program opens its seventh year under the direction head coach Tom Hanna.

The Zips return 13 players from last season's shortened Spring campaign, including the 2020 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-MAC selection in senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio). In 90 sets (22 matches) played last season, Sharrits anchored the Zips' defense with a career-high 535 total digs and 5.94 digs per set. She finished regular season play ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in total digs and No. 5 in the nation in digs per set, and after the NCAA women's volleyball championships, she ranked No. 2 in total digs and No. 6 in digs per set.

Sharrits led the MAC in both categories and rewrote Akron's record book in digs and digs per set, moving to eighth all-time in single-season dig performances, while claiming the best single-season digs per set performance in program history. In addition, Sharrits owns 1,883 career digs in 399 sets played (105 matches), which ranks third all-time at Akron.

Sharrits collected two MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and registered 20 or more digs in 15 matches with six performances delivering 30-plus digs. She posted a career-best 41 digs against Toledo. That performance ranks third all-time at Akron. In addition, Sharrits was recently named to the 2021 East Division All-MAC team

The Zips return 5-of-6 top attackers and from last season as seniors LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio), senior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio), junior LS Jen Durra (Painesville, Ohio), junior MB Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) and freshman LS/RS Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) all collected over 100 kills last year. Adleta led the squad with 279 kills (3.24 k/set) followed by Ochaya (169 K, 2.06 K/set), Durra (137 K, 2.08 K/set), Kelly (127 K, 1.41 K/set) and Johnson (101 K, 1.80 K/set).

This group also made an impact on the defensive side of the net as Kelly paced the Zips blocking efforts with 83 total blocks and added 19 digs, while junior MB Hannah Yaconis (Batavia, Ill.) ranked second in denying attacks with 55 total blocks. Other contributors included, Adleta (233 digs, 29 blocks), Durra (107 digs, 17 blocks), Ochaya (65 digs, 41 blocks) and Johnson (65 digs, 14 blocks). In addition, sophomore DS Lauren Latka (Zionsville, Ind.) collected 102 digs.

Assisting the majority of Akron's points in 2020 was senior S Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio), tossing 598 assists or 6.64 assists per set. In addition, Weigand distributed the team's most service aces (45) and added 34 kills, 186 digs and four blocks. Her 45 service aces ranked No. 1 in MAC play and No. 2 in the NCAA.

Four players will be making their collegiate debuts for the Blue and Gold this weekend as Akron's newcomers include MB Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains HS/USANY Volleyball), RS Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy HS/Mintonette Sports), LS Gia Padilla (Apollo Beach, Fla./Carrollwood Day School/OTVA Volleyball) and S Baylee Vaught (Fort Mill, S.C./Indian Land HS/Carolina Union).

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS
Friday's match marks the 17th meeting in series history between Akron and St. Francis as the Zips hold a 14-2 edge. Akron defeated the Red Flash 3-0 at the Akron Invitational in 2019. The Red Flash posted a 3-25 overall record.

SFU did not compete during the 2020-21 season and will be making their first appearance in 21 months. For 2021, SFU has five seniors on its roster, including Madi Tyus and Nicole Adams. Tyus ranked third in the Northeast Conference in kills in 2019, and Adams was among SFU's top two players in aces, kills, blocks and digs two seasons ago.

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Akron and YSU are meeting for the 52^nd time in series history with the Zips leading the series 50-1. The last time the two teams met was the 2018 as Akron claimed a 3-1 victory at the Akron Invitational.

YSU posted a 3-11 mark during the 2020 spring season. The Penguins return 14 players, including their top attacker, top three blockers and two setters, along with four newcomers. Junior right side and setter Josi Borum led the Penguins with 122 kills and posted a second-best 107 assists. YSU was slated to finish 10^th overall in the Horizon League preseason coaches poll.

SCOUTING DUQUESNE
Saturday's match marks the 13^th meeting in series history between Akron and Duquesne with the Zips holding a 9-3 advantage. The two teams have not met since the 1983 season.

Duquesne was selected to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. In 2020, the Dukes posted a 1-8 overall record. Duquesne returns nearly every statistical leader from a year ago, including junior outside hitter Morgan Kelly. Kelly led the Dukes with 68 kills (2.96 per set).

2021 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green – 72 points (12 first place votes)
2. Kent State – 53 points
3. Miami – 51 points
4. Ohio – 37 points
5. Akron – 25 points
6. Buffalo – 14 points

2021 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Central Michigan – 63 points (5 first place votes)
2. Ball State – 60 points (3)
3. Western Michigan – 49 points (3)
4. Toledo – 36 points (1)
5. Northern Illinois – 26 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 18 points

Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (10), Kent State (1), Western Michigan (1)

East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Taylor Sharrits, Akron
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Milla Malik, Buffalo
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State

West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Lauren Gilliland, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
The Zips conference play next weekend and welcome Miami for a pair of matches in the Zips home-opening series at James A. Rhodes Arena on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28-29. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. start times. Fans can follow the action by ESPN digital platforms (ESPN3 or ESPN+)

AKRON QUICK HITS (2020)

The Zips' 2021 roster consists of 13 returners and four newcomers.
Taylor Sharrits was named 2020 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-MAC
Akron ranked No. 1 in MAC in Service Aces with 143 aces in 90 sets for a 1.59 average per set.
Emily Weigand led the MAC in service aces (45, 0.50 per set)
Emily Weigand finished No. 2 in the NCAA in service aces (45)
Taylor Sharrits led the MAC in digs (535, 5.94 per set)
Taylor Sharrits finished No. 2 in NCAA in total digs (535) and No. 6 in digs per set (5.94)
Taylor Sharrits Earned a Pair of MAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades (3/1/21 and 3/15/21)
Alexis Adleta Named MAC Offensive Player of the Week (3/8/21)
Akron finished the season with a 6-16 overall mark (All MAC matches)
Akron is riding a two-game winning streak, sweeping the final series of the 2020 season against Toledo
Taylor Sharrits recorded a career-high 41 digs against Toledo