The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Zips Host Eastern Michigan
October 30 | Women's Volleyball
How To Follow The Action
Friday: Stats | Video
Saurday: Stats | Video
Stat Leaders
Akron: Kills: Delaney Gash (348) | Assists: Martina Villani (903) | Points: Delaney Gash (377) | Aces: Vanessa Del Real (38) | Digs: Vanessa Del Real (343) | Blocks: Chidera Ozoh (100)
Eastern Michigan: Kills: Ava Siefke (325) | Assists: Ashlynn Belcher (757) | Points: Ava Siefke (385.5) | Aces: Hatteras Welker (24) | Digs: Surabhi Srinivasan (353) | Blocks: Hatteras Welker (119)
A Look At The Series
Eastern Michigan: Akron Leads 24-22 | Norton vs Eastern Michigan: 3-1
First Played: Sept. 5, 1985 (Akron 0, Eastern Michigan 3)
Last Played: Nov. 9, 2024 (Akron, 3, Eastern Michigan 0)
Akron and Eastern Michigan will battle for the 47th and 48th in the all-time series this weekend. The Zips hold a 24-22 edge in the series after winning the past three contests, all 3-0 sweeps. The Blue and Gold are 5-5 over the past 10 matches and 3-2 over the last five. After starting the series down 0-2 to EMU, Akron would win 14 of the next 17 matches before the Eagles would notch five straight.
Last Time Out
BUFFALO, NY - Led by double-doubles from Delaney Gash (24 kills, 12 digs) and Martina Villani (39 assists, 12 digs), the Akron volleyball team took down the Buffalo Bulls 3-2 (25-19, 10-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10) Tuesday at Alumni Arena.
The Zips were led on offense by a double-double from Gash, who registered 24 kills and 12 digs on the day. Gabby Brissett added nine kills while Ruby Klusman added a career-high seven kills and a career-high five digs in the win. On the defensive end, Villani and Gash led the Zips with 12 digs, while Vanessa Del Real recorded 11 digs. Chidera Ozoh and Villani added three blocks each while Viillani recorded 39 assists.
Zips At AÂ Glance
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena with a 12-11 overall record and a 5-7 record in the MAC.
Akron is coming off a five-set victory at Buffalo on October 28, where Delaney Gash and Martina Villani both recorded double-doubles to power the Blue and Gold to the victory.
The win over Buffalo snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulls and gave head coach Tyson Norton his first win over Buffalo.
Gash led the offense with 24 kills and 12 digs, while Villani recorded 39 assists and 12 digs. Ruby Klusman added a career-high seven kills and a career-high five digs in the win.Â
So far this season, Gash leads the Zips in kills (348) and points (377). Villani is the leader in assists (903) while Del Real leads the way in digs (343) and aces (38). Ozoh is the leader for total blocks (100).
After Eastern Michigan, the Zips travel to battle the Bowling Green Falcons on November 7 and 8.
Scouting Report
Eastern Michigan: The Eastern Michigan Eagles come to the JAR with a 12-13 overall record and a 4-8 record in the MAC.
EMU most recently defeated Central Michigan 3-0 on October 28 to notch back-to-back wins after losing its previous three. The Eagles used a balanced attack against the Chipewas, with three Eagles recording seven or more kills, while as a team the Eagles recorded 10 aces in the win.
The Eagles are led by Ava Siefke in kills (325) and points (385.5), while Ashlynn Belcher leads the way in assists (757). Hatteras Welker leads the way in aces (24) and blocks (119) and Surabhi Srinivasan is the leader in digs (353).
Eastern Michigan ranks in the top-five in the MAC in total points (5th - 1545), points per set (5th - 16.26), opp hitting percentage (3rd - .187), fewest opp kills per set (5th - 12.36), total blocks (3rd - 223), blocks per set (3rd - 2.35), total aces (3rd - 157), aces per set (4th - 1.65), total digs (2nd - 1469) and digs per set (2nd - 15.46).
Eastern Michigan ranks 86th in the NCAA in aces per set (1.65), 86th in blocks per set (2.35), 54th in digs per set (15.46), 73rd in opp. hitting percentage (.187), 34th in total assists (1,074), 10th in total digs (1,469), 27th in total kills (1,165), 28th in total aces (157) and 11th in total blocks (223).
Individually, Ava Siefke ranks 25th in total points (385.5), 67th in total aces (33) and 39th in total kills (325). Hatteras Welker ranks 50th in blocks per set, 56th in total aces (34) and 6th in total blocks (119). Ashlynn Belcher ranks 47th in total assists (757) while Surabhi Srinivasan ranks 62nd in total digs (353).
Defensive Player of the Week (10/27/25)
Leading the Zips' defensive efforts that led to a 2-0 week against Northern Illinois, Vanessa Del Real was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday, October 27.
Del Real notched 47 digs (5.22 per set) as the Blue and Gold claimed a pair of wins over NIU. She started the week with 26 digs, one kill and four assists on Friday, while adding 21 digs, five assists and two aces on Saturday.
Milestones To Watch For
- Vanessa Del Real is 298 digs from tying Jennifer Borton (1992-95) for 10th in all-time digs (1,469).
- Del Real is 11 aces away from tying Ashley Lewis (1997-2000) for 10th in all-time aces (136).
- Del Real is 137 assists away from 500 as a Zip.
- Martina Villani is 692 assists from tying Carol Claridge (1987-88) for 10th in all-time assists (1,880).
- Villani is 225 digs away from 500 as a Zips.
- Maureen Mathews is 316 kills away from 1,000 career kills.
- Mathews is 249 points away from 1,000 in her career.
- Reilly Chausse is 119 digs away from 500 as a Zip.
- Delaney Gash is 4 kills away from 500 as a Zip.
- Gash is 219 digs away from 500 as a Zip.
- Gabby Brissett is 145 kills away from 500 as a Zip.
- Brissett is 83 kills away from 750 career kills.
- Brissett is 3.5 points away from 750 career points.
- Brissett is 107.5 points away from 500 as a Zip.
- Jordyn Aeschliman is 9 kills away from 100 as a Zip.
Career-Highs (10/28)
Ruby Klusman set career-highs in kills (7) and digs (5) at Buffalo (Oct. 28).
Leaders In The MAC
Akron ranks in the top-five in the MAC in total points (3rd - 1574), points per set (2nd - 16.74), hitting % (3rd - .212), fewest opp assists per set (11.46), total assists (2nd - 11145), assists per set (2nd - 12.18), total kills (2nd - 1232), kills per set (2nd - 13.11), total aces (4th - 151), aces per set (5th - 1.61) and fewest opp. digs per set (4th - 13.72).
Individually, the Zips see Lyndi Wolf rank 6th in hitting percentage (.303). Delaney Gash ranks 2nd in total kills (348), 3rd in kills per set (3.87), 3rd in total points (377) and 4th in points per set (4.19). Martina Villani ranks 2nd in total assists (903) and assists per set (9.61). Vanessa Del Real ranks 2nd in total aces (38), 3rd in aces per set (.43), 6th in total digs (343) and 6th in digs per set (3.85). Chidera Ozoh ranks 5th in total blocks (100) and 7th in blocks per set (1.06).
Among The Best In The NCAA
Akron and Eastern Michigan will battle for the 47th and 48th in the all-time series this weekend. The Zips hold a 24-22 edge in the series after winning the past three contests, all 3-0 sweeps. The Blue and Gold are 5-5 over the past 10 matches and 3-2 over the last five. After starting the series down 0-2 to EMU, Akron would win 14 of the next 17 matches before the Eagles would notch five straight.
The Zips rank 87th in the NCAA in assists per set (12.18), 98th in kills per set (13.11), 7th in total assists (1,145), 55th in total digs (1,305), 6th in total kills (1,232), 40th in total aces (151) and 71st in total blocks (191).
Individually, Vanessa Del Real ranks 58th in aces per set (.43), 24th in total aces (38) and 77th in total digs (343). Martina Villani ranks 62nd in assists per set (9.61) 5th in total assists (903) and 100th in total aces (31). Delaney Gash ranks 89th in kills per set (3.87), 29th in total points (377) and 21st in total kills (348). Chidera Ozoh ranks 37th in total blocks (100).
Double-Double
Delaney Gash leads the Zips with seven double-doubles after posting a 24-kill, 12-dig performance at Buffalo on Oct. 28. Martina Villani has recorded five, with the most recent coming at Buffalo on Oct. 28 with a 39-assist, 12-dig performance. Vanessa Del Real has one after recording a 17 dig, 10 assist performance at Youngstown State on Sept. 18.
First Set Success
Akron has taken the first set in 12 matches this season (vs Green Bay, at Cleveland State, vs ETSU, vs Cleveland State, vs Miami (OH), at Ohio, vs Buffalo, at WMU x2, vs NIU x2, at Buffalo), and have gone 9-3. The Zips have fallen in the first set 11 times and have gone 3-8 in those matches.
Five-Set Thrillers
The Zips have played in eight 5-set matches in 2025 and are 5-3 in those contests. Akron has defeated Green Bay, American,Western Michigan,Northern Illinois and Buffalo while falling to NC State, Miami (OH) and Buffalo.
What's Next?
Akron hits the road to battle the Bowling Green Falcons for a pair of matches on November 7 (6 p.m.) and November 8 (4 p.m.)
