The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Zips Begin Four-Game Homestand With the Zips Invitational This Week
September 03 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Volleyball team begins a four-game home stand with the Zips Invitational this week. The Zips will host Cleveland State on September 4 along with Wyoming on September 6 and Texas Rio Grande Valley on September 7.
Stats: All Matches
Stat LeadersÂ
Akron: Kills: Emanouela Christodoulou (27) | Assists: Eliska Vytiskova (38)Â | Points: Emanouela Christodoulou (27.5) | Aces:Â Vanessa Del Real (5) |Â Digs: Vanessa Del Real (27)Â | Blocks:Â Gabby Brissett (7.0)
Cleveland State: Kills: Liberty Torres (34) | Assists: Ella Mihacevich (79) | Points: Liberty Torres (36.5) | Aces: Julia Jozefov (4)Â |Â Digs:Â Emma Walker (55) | Blocks:Â Allana Appleby (18.0)
Wyoming: Kills: Emma Winter (23) | Assists: Kasia Partyka (69)Â | Points: Emma Winter (25.0) | Aces: Three Tied (4) |Â Digs:Â Sierra Grizzle (45) | Blocks:Â Sara Holcomb (13.0)
UTRGV: Kills: Nadine Zech (39) | Assists: Isabella Costantini (110)Â | Points: Llana De Assis (47.0) | Aces:Â Llana De Assis (10) |Â Digs: Celianiz Cabranes (37)Â | Blocks:Â Julianna Bryant (8.0)
Common Opponents
Cleveland State: Wyoming (MW), UTRGV (SLC), Kent State (MAC), Youngstown State (HL)
Wyoming: Cleveland State (HL), UTRGV (SLC)
UTRGV: Cleveland State (HL), Wyoming (MW)
Zips At AÂ Glance
Akron is coming off a 1-1 opening week in Puerto Rico with a 3-0 win over Evansville and a 3-1 loss to Liberty.
Emanouela Christodoulou and Lauren Baker led the offense with 27 and 21 kills respectively. Gabby Brissett recorded 19 kills and seven blocks for 22.5 points. Eliska Vytiskova was the leader in assists with 38 while Martina Villani was second with 29. Vanessa Del Real led the Zips in digs with 27 and aces with five.
Scouting Report
Cleveland State: The Vikings are coming off a 17-14 2023 season that included a 10-8 conference record. Cleveland State finished its season in the Horizon League Semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Wright State.
Cleveland State was selected to finish fifth in the Horizon League this season. The Vikings return 11 letter winners from last year's team including all-league honorees Liberty Torres and Emma Walker.
The Vikings are currently 2-1 after competing in the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. After a season-opening loss to North Carolina, Cleveland State won 3-0 over Western Carolina and the College of Charleston.
Wyoming: The Cowgirls finished 22-10 overall in 2023 and 9-9 in the Mountain West. Wyoming won two games in the NIVC before falling in five sets to Montana State to conclude the campaign.
2023 was the first time since 2019 that Wyoming made a postseason appearance and the first time since 2019 that Wyoming eclipsed the 20-win mark.
The Cowgirls were picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference this season. The Cowgirls return 12 student-athletes off last season's squad which include All-Mountain West Team honoree and the league's leader in assists, Kasia Partyka, who's 10.74 assists per set ranked 12th in the country.
Wyoming is currently 2-0 after picking up a 3-2 win over Washington State and a 3-0 victory over Nebraska Omaha at the Omaha Invitational.
Texas Rio Grande Valley: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are coming off a 19-12 season that saw a 12-4 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Advancing to the conference Semifinals, the Vaqueros fell to No. 2 seeded Grand Canyon 3-0.
Competing in the Southland Conference this season, UTRGV was selected to finish second in the preseason poll while Claudia Lupescu and Perris Key were named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team.Â
The Vaqueros are currently 3-0 after winning the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C. with 3-0 victories over Charlotte and Charleston Southern and a 3-1 win over host Furman.
What's Next?
Akron closes out the homestand with Mercyhurst coming to the JAR on Tuesday, September 10.
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