Tournament Preview: Akron Volleyball Travels to Virginia Tournament

Friday, September 3

Charlottesville, Va.

11:30 AM

University of Akron

Winthrop

Tournament Preview: Akron Volleyball Travels to Virginia Tournament

September 02 | Women's Volleyball

Tournament Preview: Akron Volleyball Travels to Virginia Tournament
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THIS WEEK
This week Akron will battle three different non-conference opponents at the Virginia Cavaliers Tournament in Charlottesville, Va. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3-4. The Zips open the two-day event on Friday against Winthrop at 11:30 a.m. followed by a battle with Virginia at 7 p.m. Akron and William & Mary will battle on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Gymnasium. Select matches are scheduled for broadcast on the ACC Network. Fans can also follow the action via live stats on GoZips.com.

GAME COVERAGE

Akron vs. Winthrop
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/365381

Akron vs. Virginia
ESPN+/ACCN+ : https://es.pn/3DJC5wL
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/363101

Akron vs. William & Mary
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/365383

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips volleyball team returns to the court after posting a 3-0 record at the Youngstown State/DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational, defeating St. Francis 3-0, Youngstown State 3-0 and Duquesne 3-2. The 3-0 start to the season marks the best start for Akron since the 2013 season where the Zips opened the season with four consecutive wins.

Senior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio) was named YSU Invitational MVP, while seniors LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) and S Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) were named to the All-Tournament squad.

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 senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio), senior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio), junior LS Jenn 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).

Ochaya Earns a Pair of MAC Player of the Week Honors
University of Akron volleyball senior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio) was named Youngstown State University DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational MVP for her all-around stellar performance over the weekend and as a result the Mid-American Conference rewarded Ochaya with both the MAC Eastern Division Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Ochaya led the Zips to a 3-0 overall record, and the best start for the program since the 2013 season. For the tournament, Ochaya paced the Zips' offense, distributing 37 kills on 89 attempts with only five errors for a team-high .360 hitting percentage. Not only did she average 3.36 kills per set, Ochaya made her presence felt on the defensive side of the net, registering 14 total blocks, assisting on 13 and issuing one solo denial with 21 digs. For the weekend, Ochaya tabulated 45.5 points.

In the season opener against St. Francis, Ochaya recorded a .500 hitting percentage, flooring eight kills on 14 attempts with just one error. She registered two blocks and three digs to help the Zips defeat SFU 3-0.

Later that evening, Ochaya logged 13 kills while converting at a .375 percent clip against the host YSU. She added eight blocks and nine digs to the second match ledger as Akron defeated the Penguins in straight sets.

In the tournament finale, Ochaya led Akron's attack with 16 kills, while adding nine digs and four blocks in a 3-2 win over Duquesne. Akron overcame a 6-2 deficit in the final set as Ochaya pounded out the final two points to lift the Zips to victory. She posted four points in the final set and registered 19.5 points for Akron in the match.

Chasing Milestones
Senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) is chasing history, needing only 76 digs to set a new all-time record at Akron. The 2,007-dig milestone was set by Karen Godzinski (1989-92). Sharrits currently has 1,932 career digs.

In addition, Akron assists leader senior S Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) ranks fifth all-time at Akron with 3,567 assists. She is 433 assists away from eclipsing the 4,000 career assists threshold. Kim Schaper (1996-99) ia Akron's all-time leader with 5,619 assists.

Chasing 1,000 career marks are Weigand and senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio). Weigand needs 44 digs to reach 1,000 and currently has 956 digs. Adleta is nearing 1,000 kills and digs, needing 81 kills for the 1,000 mark with 919 career kills and 243 digs to reach 1,000 with 757 total digs.

SCOUTING WINTHROP
Friday's match marks the second meeting in series history between Akron and Winthrop as the Zips hold a 1-0 edge. Akron defeated the Eagles 3-0 (25-20,25-22,26-24) at the 2016 WVU Invitational.

Winthrop is 0-3 this season, dropping all three matches at the Classic City Clash in Athens, Ga. to No. 22 Pepperdine (3-1), Georgia (3-0) and Morehead State (3-1). The Eagles are led by senior MB Morgan Bossler who earned preseason All-Big South. Bossler played in all 11 sets to date, averaging a team-high 2.82 kills per set while hitting a .388 percentage. Bossler was named to the All-Tournament Team. Alayna Jansky also played every set to date, averaging 2.09 kills and 2.09 digs per set, while Leah Metzger leads the Eagles with 4.45 digs per set.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA
Akron and UVA are meeting for the third time in series history with the Cavaliers leading the series 2-0. The last time the two teams met was during the 1991 season. UVA posted a 3-0 (12-15, 8-15, 5-15) win.

Virginia is coming off a 2-1 showing at the Maryland Invite with wins over Hofstra (3-0) and Central Connecticut State (3-1). The Cavaliers dropped the match against the Terrapins (3-1). UVA's Mary Shaffer and Grace Turner were named to the All-Tournament Team. Shaffer averaged 2.55 kills per set while hitting at a .278 clip and added 0.82 blocks per set. Turner posted a team-high 2.55 kills per set with 0.91 blocks per set and nine service aces.

SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
Saturday's match marks the third meeting series history between Akron and William & Mary. The Tribe won both of the previous meetings, most recently a 3-0 (16-25, 26-28, 22-25) victory at the 2019 Xavier Tournament. During the 1987 season, the Tribe won the first meeting 3-0 (6-15, 5-15, 11-15).

The Tribe opened with a pair of wins for a 2-0 overall mark, defeating Western Illinois and Air Force in straight sets at the Huskie Invitational hosted by Northern Illinois. Julia Brown was named to the All-Tournament squad and earned CAA Offensive Player of the Week. She posted a team-best 21 kills (3.50 K/set) while hitting a .441 percentage. Sabrina Malcolm (16), Anne Louise Seekford (13) and Lauren Merrill (11) also collected double-digit kills. Malcom led the squad with 11 blocks and Brown tallied six.

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
Akron will travel to Chicago, Ill. for the DePaul Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10-11at McGrath-Phillips Arena. The Zips are scheduled to play Penn (Noon) and DePaul (7 p.m.) on Friday followed by Oakland (2 p.m.) on Saturday. Fans can follow the all the action via live stats on GoZips.com and watch the match against DePaul on FloVolleyball.

AKRON QUICK HITS

Teagan Ochaya Named MAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week
Teagan Ochaya Named YSU Invitational MVP
Zips Won YSU Invitational, defeating SFU 3-0, YSU 3-0 and Duquesne 3-2
Akron's three wins to start season best start since 2013
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