The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Zips Volleyball Welcomes Eight Newcomers
August 16 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron volleyball squad under the leadership of second-year head coach Tyson Norton continues preseason workouts ahead of the 2023 campaign as the nine returning letter winners welcome the eight newcomers to the program.
With just over one week until the season opener, the 17-member roster is anchored by seniors OH Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) and DS Mia Thompson (Delaware, Ohio) followed by juniors RS/OH Genevieve Hara (Imperial Beach, Calif.), MB Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.), MB Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio), sophomores S Avery Brown (Decatur, Ga.), OH Samantha Sabra (San Pedro, Calif.), S Baylee Vought (Fort Mill, S.C.) and RS/OH Chloe Werner (Waterford, Wisc.).
The list of newcomers includes three transfers in juniors RS/OH Lauren Baker (Osceola, Ind.), OH Emanouela Christodoulou (Eretria, Greece) and MB Melisa Tore (Istanbul, Turkey).
Baker is a 5'11" junior right side and outside hitter from Osceola, Ind., transferring from Tennessee at Chattanooga. She spent two seasons with the Mocs, appearing in 19 matches and 44 sets. At Penn High School, Baker helped lead the team to a 123-24 overall record over four years.
Christoodoulou arrived in Akron after spending one season at Iowa Western Community College. She is a 6-foot outside hitter from Eretria, Greece who averaged 2.8 kills per set with 140 total kills at IWCC. Christoodoulou appeared in 18 matches and 50 sets while registering 149 total points or 3.0 points per set.
Tore hails from Istanbul, Turkey and is a 6'3" middle blocker, transferring from Middle Tennessee. She played in 36 matches, totaling 89 sets for the Blue Raiders in two seasons played. She ranked second on the all-time list for aces per set (.42) and issued 37 total service aces in two seasons. She earned Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll twice.
The remaining cast of newcomers are all freshmen as RS/OH Sarah Bettis (Blissfield, Mich.), DS Vanessa Del Real (Crown Point, Ind.), MB Chidera Ozoh (Hazel Crest, Ill.), DS Sophie Twigg (Sylvania, Ohio) and S Eliska Vytiskova (Ostrava, Czech Republic) prepare for collegiate competition.
Bettis is a 6'1" right side and outside hitter from Blissfield, Mich. She was a multiple sport student-athlete at Blissfield High School Intended and earned Academic All-State in volleyball and basketball as well as Michigan's Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. She helped BHS advance to state finals in basketball and finished runner-up, while graduating Summa Cum Laude. She played club for Team Pineapple.
Del Real is a defensive specialist from Crown Point, Ind. She earned second team All-State and several all-conference awards at Crown Point High School. In addition, she earned College Board National Hispanic Scholar Recognition and was named academic all-state and all-conference while being a member of National Honor Society. Del Real played for 1st Alliance Volleyball Club.
Ozoh is a 6-foot middle blocker from Hazel Crest, Ill. She ranks No. 4 all-time at Homewood Flossmoor High School for most kills. Ozoh earned second team all-state and first team all-conference accolades in 2022, while being voted as team MVP. She also played club for 1st Alliance.
Twigg is a defensive specialist from Sylvania, Ohio. In 2022, she earned second team All-Northern Lakes League while playing for Bowling Green High School. In addition, Twigg had a decorated AAU career as a member of the 17u National Champions Premier Volleyball Academy. She earned AAU All-America accolades and played for the 18u national championship team in 2023.
Vytiskova is the third international newcomer to don the Blue and Gold. She is a 5'9" setter from Ostrava, Czech Republic and attended Sportovní gymnázium Dany a Emila Zátopkových High School. In addition, Vytiskova spent four years playing for the Czech Republic National Team as a member of the 16u, 17u, 19u and 21u teams.
Akron opens the season with seven matches on the road, starting with the Panther Invitational hosted by Eastern Illinois on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26. Akron's home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8 as the Blue & Gold hosts Harvard (11 a.m.) and Bucknell (6 p.m.) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Season ticket plans for the 2023 Akron football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball seasons, which include a ticket to all home games, can be purchased at www.GoZips.com/Tickets or by visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during our business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
With just over one week until the season opener, the 17-member roster is anchored by seniors OH Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) and DS Mia Thompson (Delaware, Ohio) followed by juniors RS/OH Genevieve Hara (Imperial Beach, Calif.), MB Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.), MB Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio), sophomores S Avery Brown (Decatur, Ga.), OH Samantha Sabra (San Pedro, Calif.), S Baylee Vought (Fort Mill, S.C.) and RS/OH Chloe Werner (Waterford, Wisc.).
The list of newcomers includes three transfers in juniors RS/OH Lauren Baker (Osceola, Ind.), OH Emanouela Christodoulou (Eretria, Greece) and MB Melisa Tore (Istanbul, Turkey).
Baker is a 5'11" junior right side and outside hitter from Osceola, Ind., transferring from Tennessee at Chattanooga. She spent two seasons with the Mocs, appearing in 19 matches and 44 sets. At Penn High School, Baker helped lead the team to a 123-24 overall record over four years.
Christoodoulou arrived in Akron after spending one season at Iowa Western Community College. She is a 6-foot outside hitter from Eretria, Greece who averaged 2.8 kills per set with 140 total kills at IWCC. Christoodoulou appeared in 18 matches and 50 sets while registering 149 total points or 3.0 points per set.
Tore hails from Istanbul, Turkey and is a 6'3" middle blocker, transferring from Middle Tennessee. She played in 36 matches, totaling 89 sets for the Blue Raiders in two seasons played. She ranked second on the all-time list for aces per set (.42) and issued 37 total service aces in two seasons. She earned Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll twice.
The remaining cast of newcomers are all freshmen as RS/OH Sarah Bettis (Blissfield, Mich.), DS Vanessa Del Real (Crown Point, Ind.), MB Chidera Ozoh (Hazel Crest, Ill.), DS Sophie Twigg (Sylvania, Ohio) and S Eliska Vytiskova (Ostrava, Czech Republic) prepare for collegiate competition.
Bettis is a 6'1" right side and outside hitter from Blissfield, Mich. She was a multiple sport student-athlete at Blissfield High School Intended and earned Academic All-State in volleyball and basketball as well as Michigan's Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. She helped BHS advance to state finals in basketball and finished runner-up, while graduating Summa Cum Laude. She played club for Team Pineapple.
Del Real is a defensive specialist from Crown Point, Ind. She earned second team All-State and several all-conference awards at Crown Point High School. In addition, she earned College Board National Hispanic Scholar Recognition and was named academic all-state and all-conference while being a member of National Honor Society. Del Real played for 1st Alliance Volleyball Club.
Ozoh is a 6-foot middle blocker from Hazel Crest, Ill. She ranks No. 4 all-time at Homewood Flossmoor High School for most kills. Ozoh earned second team all-state and first team all-conference accolades in 2022, while being voted as team MVP. She also played club for 1st Alliance.
Twigg is a defensive specialist from Sylvania, Ohio. In 2022, she earned second team All-Northern Lakes League while playing for Bowling Green High School. In addition, Twigg had a decorated AAU career as a member of the 17u National Champions Premier Volleyball Academy. She earned AAU All-America accolades and played for the 18u national championship team in 2023.
Vytiskova is the third international newcomer to don the Blue and Gold. She is a 5'9" setter from Ostrava, Czech Republic and attended Sportovní gymnázium Dany a Emila Zátopkových High School. In addition, Vytiskova spent four years playing for the Czech Republic National Team as a member of the 16u, 17u, 19u and 21u teams.
Akron opens the season with seven matches on the road, starting with the Panther Invitational hosted by Eastern Illinois on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26. Akron's home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 8 as the Blue & Gold hosts Harvard (11 a.m.) and Bucknell (6 p.m.) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Season ticket plans for the 2023 Akron football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball seasons, which include a ticket to all home games, can be purchased at www.GoZips.com/Tickets or by visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during our business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Players Mentioned
RS/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RH
/ Women's Volleyball
LS/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
RH
/ Women's Volleyball2024 Akron Zips Volleyball - Preseason Press Conference - Head Coach Tyson Norton - 08/28/24
Friday, August 23
2024 Akron Zips Volleyball - Preseason Press Conference - Student-Athletes - 08/28/24
Friday, August 23
2023 Akron Zips Volleyball Highlights vs. Central Michigan - 10/6/23
Thursday, October 19
2023 Akron Zips Volleyball Highlights vs. Eastern Michigan - 10/5/23
Thursday, October 19
