The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Youngstown State
Zips Conclude Non-Conference Action - Travel to YSU & Host CSU
September 17 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio -Â The Zips conclude their non-conference schedule when they travel to Youngstown State on Thursday, September 18, and host Cleveland State on Friday, September 19.
How To Follow The Action
Youngstown State: No Video |Â Stats
Cleveland State: No Video |Â Stats
Stat Leaders
Akron: Kills: Maureen Mathews (141) | Assists: Martina Villani (294) | Points: Maureen Mathews (150) | Aces: Vanessa Del Real (20) | Digs: Vanessa Del Real (124) | Blocks: Chidera Ozoh (32)
Youngstown State:Â Kills: Abbie Householder (120) | Assists: Kameron Blizniak (271) | Points: Abbie Householder (139.5) |Â Aces: Brie Habeeb (10)Â Digs: Brie Habeeb (144)Â | Blocks: Niyah Lester (36.0)
Cleveland State:Â Kills: Bryn VanVleet (91) | Assists: Isabella Gibbons (181) | Points: Bryn VanVleet (94) |Â Aces: Two Tied (7)Â Digs: Vayda Delventhal (147) | Blocks: Julia Jozefov (24)
A Look At The Series
Youngstown State:Â Akron Leads 49-6 | Norton vs Youngstown State: 2-1
First Played: 1974 (Akron 2, YSU 0)
Last Played: Sept. 19, 2024 (Akron, 3, YSU 0)
Cleveland State:Â Akron Trails 25-21 | Norton vs Cleveland State: 2-5
First Played:1974 (Akron 1, Cleveland State 2)
Last Played: Sept. 3, 2025 (Akron, 3, Cleveland State 1)
Common Opponents
Youngstown State:Â Kent State (MAC), Green Bay (Horizon), Northern Kentucky (Horizon), Cleveland State (Horizon)
Cleveland State:Â American (Patriot League), East Tennessee State (SoCon), NC State (ACC), Kent State (MAC), Northern Kentucky (Horizon), Green Bay (Horizon), Youngstown State (Horizon)
Zips At AÂ Glance
The Zips come into the week with a 5-4 record after going 1-2 at the Geri Polvino Invitational in Richmond, Ky.
Akron started with a 3-1 victory over host Eastern Kentucky on Friday, which saw the Delaney Gash lead the squad with a career-high 25 kills. Martina Villani recorded her second double-double of the season with a 40-assist and a career-high 13-dig performance. Vanessa Del Real filled up the stat sheet for the Blue and Gold, supplying a career-high 11 assists, seven digs and four aces.
The Zips fell to Northern Kentucky and Texas-Rio Grande Valley in three sets on Saturday.
Maureen Mathews leads Akron in kills (141) and points (150). Villani is leading the Blue and Gold in assists (294). Del Real is the leader in aces (20) and digs (124), while Chidera Ozoh leads the way in blocks (32).
Scouting Report
Youngstown State: The Penguins come into the week with a 5-4 record after going 1-2 at the Steve Baumrind Invitational in Charleston, S.C., this past weekend. Youngstown ended the invitational with a 3-2 victory over Quinnipiac while falling 3-1 to the College of Charleston and 3-2 to Stetson.
Along with hosting Akron on Thursday, Youngstown State will host Kent State on Friday before opening Horizon League play at Green Bay on September 26 and 27.
So far this season, the Penguins are led by 2024 All-League Second Team selection Abbie Householder in kills (120) and points (139.5). Kameron Blizniak leads the way in assists (271) while Brie Habeeb is the leader in aces (10) and digs (144). Niyah Lester is the leader in blocks (36).
Youngstown was picked to finish 10th in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
Cleveland State: The Vikings come into the week with a 1-8 record after going 1-2 at the NC State Tournament this past weekend. Earning a 3-1 win over Duke to close out action, Cleveland State lost 3-1 to Coastal Carolina and 3-0 to NC State.
Cleveland State will host Kent State on Thursday before coming to James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday.
This is the second meeting between the two schools this season, with the Zips taking a 3-1 victory at Woodling Gymnasium on September 3.
So far this season, Bryn VanVleet leads the Vikings in kills (181) and points (94). Isabella Gibbons is the leader in assists (181). Two Vikings are tied for the lead in aces (7) while Vayda Delventhal is the leader in digs (147) and Julia Jozefov is the leader in blocks (24).
Cleveland State was picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll while receiving two first-place votes.
Career Highs at the Geri Polvino Invitational (Sept. 12-13)
- Delaney Gash set a career-high in kills (25, at Eastern Kentucky).
- Reilly Chausse set a career-high in kills (1, at Eastern Kentucky).
- Vanessa Del Real set a career-high in assists (11, at Eastern Kentucky).
- Chidera Ozoh set career-highs in kills (6, at Eastern Kentucky) and digs (3, at Eastern Kentucky).
- Martina Villani set a career-high in aces (3, vs Northern Kentucky).
Milestones To Watch For (NCAA Stats only)
- Vanessa Del Real is 48 digs away from 1,000 as a Zip.
- Del Real is 517 digs from tying Jennifer Borton (1992-95) for 10th in all-time digs (1,469).
- Del Real is 29 aces away from tying Ashley Lewis (1997-2000) for 10th in all-time aces (136).
- Maureen Mathews is 6 blocks away from 100 career blocks
- Reilly Chausse is 262 digs away from 500 as a Zip.
- Delaney Gash is 245 kills away from 500 as a Zip.
Leaders In The MACÂ
As a team, Akron ranks in the top-five in the MAC in fewest opponent assists per set (5th - 10.86), fewest opponent kills per set (11.47), total aces (5th - 58), and fewest opponent digs per set (3rd - 12.69).
Individually, Akron's Maureen Mathews is ranked 4th in kills per set (3.92), 5th in total kills (141), 5th in total points (150), and 6th in points per set (4.17). Martina Villani ranks 7th in total assists (294) and assists per set (8.17). Vanessa Del Real is 1st in aces per set (.56) and total aces (20) while ranking 7th in total digs (124) and digs per set (3.44). Chidera Ozoh ranks 5th in total blocks (32) and 9th in blocks per set (.89). Delaney Gash ranks 8th in total kills (107) and kills per set (3.24).
Among The Best In The NCAA
As a team, Akron ranks 60th in the NCAA in total assists (413), 101st in total digs (482), 59th in total kills (448) and 82nd in total aces (58).
Individually, Vanessa Del Real ranks 45th in aces per set (.56), 14th in total aces (20) and 120th in total digs (124). Maureen Mathews ranks 71st in kills per set (3.92) 43rd in total points (150) and 21st in total kills (141). Martina Villani ranks 63rd in total assists (294).
What's Next?
Akron begins Mid-American Conference action with a pair of home contests against Miami (Sept. 25) and Ball State (Sept. 26) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
