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Zips Fall to NKU and UTRGV on Saturday
September 13 | Women's Volleyball
RICHMOND, KY - The Akron Volleyball team fell to Northern Kentucky and Texas-Rio Grande to conclude the Geri Polvino Invitational.
Game 1 (Akron 0, NKU 3)
The Akron volleyball team could not beat a potent Norse offense Saturday losing to Northern Kentucky in straight sets (21-25, 19-25, 19-25).
The non-conference loss dropped Akron to 5-3 on the season.
Maureen Mathews finished with 13 kills on the day to lead the Zips offense while finishing with a hitting percentage of .32. Akron got 14 digs from Vanessa Del Real to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Martina Villani had a team-high three aces in the loss.
» Maureen Mathews had a match-high 13 kills for Akron.
» Akron got a match-high 14 digs from Vanessa Del Real.
» Akron attackers were helped by a team-high 25 assists from Martina Villani.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Zips couldn't persevere past a furious Northern Kentucky rally in the first set, losing 25-21 after leading by seven points at 13-6 earlier in the set.
SET 2 | A 25-19 second-set loss put Akron in a 2-0 deficit in the match. The Zips couldn't survive a ferocious Northern Kentucky rally in the second set, falling after leading by seven points at 10-3 earlier in the set.
SET 3 | Akron was not able to win the third set and was swept by Northern Kentucky. The Zips fell behind on the first point and never took the lead before falling in the set 25-19.
Game 2 (Akron 0, UTRGV 3)
The Akron volleyball team could not beat a dynamic Vaqueros offense Saturday losing to UT Rio Grande Valley in straight sets (14-25, 24-26, 14-25).
The non-conference loss moved Akron to 5-4 on the season.
The Zips offense was paced by Maureen Mathews, who finished with 11 kills on the day, and by Delaney Gash, who had 10. Akron got 11 digs from Vanessa Del Real to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Delaney Gash had a team-high one ace in the loss.
» Maureen Mathews had a match-high 11 kills for Akron.
» Akron got a team-high 11 digs from Vanessa Del Real.
» Akron attackers were helped by a team-high 22 assists from Martina Villani.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Zips fell behind early, dropping a tough first set 25-14. Akron trailed by as many as 11 points as UT Rio Grande Valley grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Vaqueros took control.
SET 2 | Akron dropped the second set 26-24, digging a 2-0 deficit in the match. The Zips fell in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured three lead changes and was tied seven times. Neither team led by more than three points along the way.
SET 3 | UT Rio Grande Valley finished the sweep with a set-three victory. The Zips fell behind on the first point and never took the lead before falling in the set 25-14.
What's Next?
Akron will hit the road to battle Youngstown State on Thursday while hosting Cleveland State on Friday
