Johnson, Ochaya Lead Zips to First MAC Win, Zips Defeat Western Michigan 3-2

Friday, September 30

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

4-11,1-3MAC

Western Michigan University

10-6,2-2MAC

Western Mich.

Akron

Johnson, Ochaya Lead Zips to First MAC Win, Zips Defeat Western Michigan 3-2

September 30 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score PDF

AKRON, Ohio – Junior Faith Johnson and senior Teagan Ochaya floored 37 of the Zips 64 kills en route to a 3-2 series-opening win over Western Michigan on Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Johnson registered a team-best 19 kills for a .241 hitting percentage and accumulated 21 points by adding three blocks. Ochaya floored 18 kills and hit .220 with six blocks for a team-high 22 points. Junior Jayda Young led the team in blocks with nine and added 11 kills for 15.5 points, while freshmen Avery Brown and Baylee Vought collected 26 and 15 assists, respectively. Senior Lauren Latka added to the Zips' assist total with 12 and anchored the defense with a team-leading 37 digs.

Western Michigan (10-6, 2-2 MAC) claimed the opening set, and cruised to a 21-12 advantage in the second frame. Akron (4-11, 1-3 MAC) scored nine-consecutive points, and 10 of 11, to tie the match 22 all. A back-and-forth battle ensued until the Zips floored two consecutive points on a kill by Vought and a WMU miscue for a 30-28 win. Akron carried the momentum into the third set fueled by six kills from Johnson and five from Ochaya en route to a 25-20 win.

The Broncos fired back with a fourth set 25-13 win to force a fifth set. In the final set, the two teams traded points to the midpoint when Akron claimed an 8-6 lead on a kill by Young. The Broncos tied the game at 11, but a kill by Johnson put the Zips back in the lead. After a WMU kill and hitting error, the Zips won the match on a block by Ochaya and Young.

Keona Salesman led the Broncos with 20 kills while hitting at a .333 clip, and Logan Case tossed 62 of 64 assists for WMU.

The two teams will be back on the court at James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Noon. Fans can follow the action on ESPN3 or by live stats via GoZips.com.

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Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in the community, and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.