The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
7-10,2-3MAC
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Western Michigan
10-6,2-3MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mich. | 24 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 13 | 2 |
| Akron | 26 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Akron Volleyball Rallies Past Western Michigan in Five Sets
October 08 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to earn a thrilling five-set victory over Western Michigan, 3-2, Thursday night at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips captured the final two sets, winning 26-24, 17-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13, to secure the Mid-American Conference victory.
Akron improved to 7-10 overall and 2-3 in MAC play, while Western Michigan moved to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in conference action. The Zips finished with 66 kills, 65 assists, six service aces, 14 team blocks and 72 digs, hitting .274 for the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Akron opened the match with a hard-fought first-set victory. The Zips recorded 15 kills and hit .333, then held off a late Western Michigan push to take the set, 26-24, and grab the early match advantage.
The Broncos responded in the second set, using an efficient offensive performance to even the match. Western Michigan recorded 11 kills with just two errors, hitting .321, while Akron committed eight attack errors and hit .150. The Broncos won the set, 25-17.
Western Michigan carried that momentum into the third set, recording 19 kills and hitting .333 to claim a 25-21 victory and move ahead 2-1.
Facing a must-win fourth set, the Zips responded with their strongest performance since the opener. Akron recorded 14 kills on 31 attacks, hitting .355, while limiting the Broncos to an 11-kill, .156 hitting performance. The Zips pulled away for a 25-17 win to force a deciding fifth set.
Akron carried its momentum into the final frame, producing 10 kills and hitting .296. The Zips held off Western Michigan down the stretch to claim a 15-13 victory and complete the comeback.
GAME NOTES
- Gash leads the attack: Delaney Gash paced Akron with 18 kills and added one service ace, one block assist and 14 digs. She finished with a team-high 19.5 points.
- Wilson delivers 15 kills: Lauren Wilson recorded 15 kills on 29 attacks, hitting .448, while adding one block assist.
- Ozoh dominates at the net: Chidera Ozoh contributed 13 kills on 22 attacks, hitting .545. She also recorded three solo blocks and five block assists for a team-high eight total blocks.
- Aeschliman adds 10: Jordyn Aeschliman finished with 10 kills and five total blocks, including one solo block and four block assists.
- Wolf's efficient performance: Lyndi Wolf recorded five kills without an attack error, along with two assists, one service ace and five total blocks.
- Setting the offense: Clara Christensen led Akron with 31 assists, while Masa Prascevic added 23 assists. Vanessa Del Real contributed eight assists.
- Del Real leads defensively: Del Real paced the Zips with 15 digs, while Gash added 14 and Prascevic recorded 12.
- Chausse at the service line: Reilly Chausse led Akron with four service aces and added 11 digs.
- Strong at the net: Akron finished with 14 team blocks, compared with eight for Western Michigan. Ozoh led all players with eight total blocks.
- Fifth-set finish: Akron recorded 10 kills and hit .296 in the deciding set to secure the 15-13 victory.
- Balanced team effort: Akron finished with 66 kills and hit .274, while Western Michigan recorded 67 kills and hit .244.
- Home crowd: Thursday's match drew 675 fans to James A. Rhodes Arena.
BY THE NUMBERS
66 – Akron kills in the match.
.274 – Akron's team hitting percentage.
18 – Kills by Delaney Gash, a team high.
15 – Kills by Lauren Wilson.
13 – Kills by Chidera Ozoh.
.545 – Ozoh's hitting percentage.
.448 – Wilson's hitting percentage.
31 – Assists by Clara Christensen.
23 – Assists by Masa Prascevic.
72 – Akron digs.
15 – Digs by Vanessa Del Real.
14 – Digs by Delaney Gash.
14 – Akron's total team blocks.
8 – Total blocks by Chidera Ozoh.
4 – Service aces by Reilly Chausse.
10 – Akron kills in the deciding fifth set.
15-13 – Akron's fifth-set victory.
675 – Attendance at James A. Rhodes Arena.
7-10 – Akron's overall record following Thursday's match.
2-3 – Akron's MAC record.
UP NEXT
Akron continues its home series against Western Michigan on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena. The match will be available on ESPN+.
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