The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Zips Travel to Ball State and Miami (OH) to Conclude the Week
October 10 | Women's Volleyball
How To Follow
Friday: Stats | Video (ESPN+)
Saturday: Stats | Video (ESPN+)
Inside The Series
Ball State
All-Time: 5-41
First Met: Oct. 11, 1986 (L, 1-3)
Last Met: Oct. 13, 2023 (L, 1-3)
Norton vs Ball State: 0-3
The Zips are 5-41 against the Cardinals in the all-time series. Akron last posted a win against Ball State at James A. Rhodes Arena on September 28, 2019 when the Blue and Gold won 3-2. The Cardinals have won the previous six contests.
Miami (OH)
All-Time: 21-50
First Met: 1974 (L, 1-2)
Last Met: Nov. 11, 2023 (W, 3-0)
Norton vs Miami (OH): 3-1
Akron holds a 21-50 all-time record against the RedHawks. In the last 10 meetings between the two sides, Akron is 7-3. The Zips have also won the past three meetings and are 4-1 in the previous five matches. Before winning 3-0 on October 5, 2019 in Oxford, Akron had lost the last 11 meetings to Miami.
Stat Leaders
Akron: Kills: Lauren Baker (237) | Assists: Eliska Vytiskova (446) | Points: Lauren Baker (278) | Aces: Lauren Baker (24) | Digs: Vanessa Del Real (249) | Blocks: Karleighana Jones (68)
Ball State: Kills: Carson Tyler (184) | Assists: Megan Wielonski (592) | Points: Carson Tyler (201.5) |Â Aces: Megan Wielonski (23) | Digs: Sophie Ledbetter (214) | Blocks: Aayinde Smith (65)
Miami (OH): Kills: Regan Lantz (130) | Assists: Hayden Hicks (373) | Points: Ana Vetter (160.5) |Â Aces: Ellie Hanson (21) | Digs: Anna McClure (231) | Blocks: Gentry Warrick (75)
Zips At AÂ Glance
Akron enters with a 7-10 overall record,a 3-2 record in conference and a 2-3 record on the road The Zips recently fell to Buffalo, 3-1, at home on October 8.
The Zips will look to stay perfect on the road after picking up their first two MAC wins at NIU.
So far this season Baker leads the Zips in kills (237), points (278) and aces (24). Eliska Vytiskova is the leader in assists (446) while Vanesa Del Real is the leader in digs (249) and Jones is the leader in blocks (68).
Akron is in the top-5 in the MAC for points per set (5th - 16.30), total points (2nd - 1157) hitting percentage (3rd - .227, total assists (1st - 850), assists per set (4th - 11.97), total kills (2nd - 893), fewest blocks allowed per set (2nd - 1.91), fewest aces allowed per set (3rd - 1.27) aces per set (4th - 1.75) and total aces (1st - 124).Â
Individually, Akron sees Lauren Baker ranked first in total kills (237), seventh in kills per set (3.34), 5th in total aces (24), 9th in aces per set (.34), first in total points (278) and fifth in points per set (3.92). Karleighana Jones is sixth in the MAC for total blocks (68) and eighth in blocks per set (1.01). Eliska Vytiskova is sixth in the MAC for total assists (448) and ninth in assists per set (6.31).
In the NCAA, the Zips rank 64th in aces per set (1.75), 96th in assists per set (11.97),2nd in total assists (850), 34th in total digs (1,005), 4th in total kills (893), 13th in total aces (124), and 63rd in total blocks (140).
Individually, Lauren Baker is ranked 32nd in points (278), 81st in aces (24) and 38th in total kills (237). Emanouela Christodoulou ranks 88th in total kills (210), Vanesa Del Real ranks 79h in total digs (250) and Karleighana Jonesranks 66th in blocks (68).
Scouting Report
Ball State: Ball State comes into the weekend with a 9-7 overall record, a 2-3 record in the MAC and a 1-2 record at home. The Cardinals recently defeated Miami (OH) 3-1. The Cardinals were led by Aniya Kennwsy's 12 kills while Megan Wielonski and Katie Egenolf added four aces each. Megan Wielonski paced the Cardinals with 29 assists.Â
Ball State is 2-3 in its past five games after splitting a two-game series with Central Michigan and winning against Miami while starting conference play with a pair of losses to Bowling Green.Â
In the MAC, Ball State is 2nd in points per set (16.42), 1st in hitting percentage (.243), t4th in assists per set (11.97), 4th in kills per set (12.73) and 3rd in blocks (2.45).
Individually, Madison Buckly and Aayine Smith rank 6th and 7th in hitting percentage, Carson Tyler and Kennedy rank 8th and 9th in kills per set, Megan Wielonski ranks 2nd in assists per set and 5th in aces, Gwen Cruller ranks 3rd in blocks per set while Tyler and Kennedy rank 9th and 10th in points per set.
The Cardinals rank 45th in the NCAA for total blocks (147).
Individually in the NCAA, Wielonski ranks 43rd in assists per set and 27th in total assists. Smith is ranked 89th in the NCAA for total blocks.
Miami (OH): Miami comes into the weekend with a 6-10 overall record, a 0-5 record in the MAC and an 0-3 record at home. The RedHawks recently fell 3-1 to Ball State.Â
After starting conference action with a pair of 3-0 sweeps against Central Michigan, the RedHawks fell 3-0 and 3-2 to Eastern Michigan before its recent defeat to Ball State.
In the MAC, Miami ranks 4th in blocks per set (2.32) and 1st in aces per set (1.89).
Individually Ellie Hanson ranks 6th in aces per set, Gentry Warrick ranks 2nd in blocks per set and Anna McClure ranks 6th in digs per set.
The RedHawks rank 27th in the NCAA for aces per set (1.89), 43rd for total aces (108) and 85th for blocks per set (2.32).
What's Next?
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena for a pair of home games when Toledo (October 17) and Bowling Green (October 18) make their way to Akron to face the Blue and Gold.
