Zips are back at the JAR for Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. #BeatKent

What's Ahead
The Akron Zips are back at the JAR for the season finale and Senior Night. The Zips will onor the 2026 senior class after the match. Akron will play host the rival Kent State at 6 p.m. Earlier this season (Sept. 23), Akron swept the Golden Flashes 3-0 and look for the season sweep at home. The match can be seen on ESPN+ or followed via Live Stats. Akron claimed the first match 3-1 on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron VB Seniors 2026 Thank You

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Sat. 11.14 | Akron vs Kent State | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN+ | Stats

AKRON SENIORS
No. 1 Vanessa Del Real: A four-year member of the Zips, Vanessa has been a key part of Akron's backcourt throughout her career. Playing in 114 matches while wearing the Blue and Gold, she has recorded 1,684 digs, averaging 3.70 digs per set. She also has contributed 498 assists and 167 service aces. Vanessa recorded a career-high 37 digs against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 31, 2025. A speech-language pathology and audiology major, Vanessa is also earning a certificate in American Sign Language.

No. 2 Sarah Bettis: A four-year member of the Zips, Sarah has appeared in 19 matches during her Akron career. She has recorded 44 kills, 45 digs, six service aces and three assists. Sarah recorded a career-high 17 digs at Western Michigan on Oct. 10, 2025, and a career-best 10 kills against Buffalo on Oct. 7, 2025. A biology major with a minor in chemistry, Sarah has combined her commitment in the classroom with her contributions to the Akron volleyball program.

No. 10 Chiara Gennari Vila: A graduate student and one-year member of the Zips, Chiara joined Akron after three seasons at Idaho. Across her collegiate career, she has appeared in 96 matches, recording 373 kills, 167 digs, 96 blocks and 13 service aces. During her time at Akron, she has totaled 64 kills and 23 blocks. Chiara recorded a career-high 23 kills against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 6, 2025, and a career-best seven blocks on two occasions.Chiara is earning her Master of Business Administration.

No. 22 Chidera Ozoh: A four-year member of the Zips, Chidera has been a dominant presence at the net throughout her Akron career. Playing in 58 matches, she has recorded 401 kills, 237 total blocks and 46 digs. She owns a career .351 hitting percentage and averages 1.03 blocks per set. Chidera recorded a career-high 16 kills at Ball State on Oct. 23, 2026, and a career-best 11 blocks against Ball State on Sept. 26, 2025. A biology major, Chidera has made a lasting impact on the Akron volleyball program both on and off the court.

ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Record: Akron enters the next portion of the season with an 11-16 overall record and a 6-9 mark in Mid-American Conference play. The Zips are 7-4 at home, 4-9 on the road and 0-3 at neutral sites. Akron has earned victories over ETSU, Cleveland State (twice), Valparaiso, Youngstown State, Kent State, Western Michigan, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan (twice). The Zips most recently dropped a five-set decision at Buffalo on Nov. 10 after sweeping Central Michigan at home on Nov. 6-7.

Offensive Leaders: Delaney Gash leads the Zips with 293 kills and averages 3.18 kills per set while hitting .236. Chidera Ozoh ranks second with 240 kills and a team-best .394 hitting percentage, averaging 2.20 kills per set. Lauren Wilson has recorded 214 kills (2.30 per set), while Jordyn Aeschliman has added 210 (2.06 per set). Lyndi Wolf rounds out the leaders with 169 kills and averages 1.61 per set.

Setting the Offense: Clara Christensen leads Akron with 476 assists through 79 sets, averaging 6.03 assists per set. Masa Prascevic follows with 353 assists through 71 sets (4.97 per set), while Payton Evans has recorded 240 assists in 60 sets, averaging 4.00 per set. Christensen dished out 25 assists in Akron's Nov. 7 sweep of Central Michigan.

At the Service Line: Vanessa Del Real and Reilly Chausse share the team lead with 36 service aces apiece, averaging 0.33 per set. Lyndi Wolf ranks third with 29 aces (0.28 per set), while Clara Christensen has contributed 14. As a team, Akron has totaled 168 service aces, averaging 1.54 per set. The Zips recorded a season-high 11 aces at ETSU on Aug. 28 and at Kent State on Sept. 23.

Defensive Standouts: Del Real leads the Zips with 398 digs and averages 3.65 per set. Chausse ranks second with 207 digs (1.90 per set), followed by Gash with 203 (2.21 per set). Christensen has recorded 131 digs (1.66 per set), while Prascevic has added 115 (1.62 per set). Akron has totaled 1,423 digs, averaging 13.06 per set.

At the Net: Ozoh anchors the Akron defense with 109 total blocks, including 24 solo blocks and 85 block assists, averaging 1.00 blocks per set. Wolf ranks second with 81 total blocks (11 solo and 70 assists), while Aeschliman has contributed 55 (seven solo and 48 assists). Akron has recorded 207 total blocks, averaging 1.90 per set. Ozoh recorded a season-high eight blocks against Western Michigan on Oct. 8, while Wolf matched that mark with eight blocks at Buffalo on Nov. 10.

Team Numbers: Akron has recorded 1,388 kills, 1,287 assists and 168 service aces across 109 sets. The Zips are hitting .221 as a team and average 12.73 kills, 11.81 assists and 1.54 service aces per set. Akron has also totaled 1,423 digs (13.06 per set) and 207 total blocks (1.90 per set).

Four- and Five-Set Battles: Akron has played 12 four-set matches, posting a 6-6 record, and eight five-set matches, going 2-6. The Zips are 3-4 in three-set matches. Their five-set victories came against ETSU and Western Michigan. Akron swept Central Michigan in consecutive matches on Nov. 6-7 before falling in five sets at Buffalo on Nov. 10.

Season Highs: Akron's best team hitting percentage is .464 against Central Michigan on Nov. 7. The Zips recorded a season-high 67 kills and 83 digs against Western Michigan on Oct. 8. Akron's highest single-match block total was 14, also against Western Michigan on Oct. 8. The Zips recorded 11 service aces at ETSU on Aug. 28 and at Kent State on Sept. 23.

MAC Opener: Akron opened conference play with a 3-0 sweep at Kent State on Sept. 23, winning 25-12, 25-13 and 25-22. The Zips hit .302 and recorded 11 service aces in the victory.

Double-Double Tracker: Akron has recorded 11 double-doubles this season. Gash leads the team with seven, while Prascevic and Christensen have recorded two apiece.

Delaney Gash (7): 15 kills and 11 digs at IU Indy (Sept. 5); 14 kills and 11 digs vs. Cleveland State (Sept. 10); 16 kills and 17 digs vs. Coppin State (Sept. 11); 17 kills and 15 digs vs. Valparaiso (Sept. 12); 11 kills and 13 digs at Kent State (Sept. 23); 18 kills and 14 digs vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 8); 10 kills and 12 digs at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 31).

Masa Prascevic (2): 50 assists and 10 digs vs. Coppin State (Sept. 11); 23 assists and 12 digs vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 8).

Clara Christensen (2): 31 assists and 12 digs vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 8); 27 assists and 15 digs at Miami (Ohio) (Oct. 24).Gash Among Team Leaders: Gash remains Akron's leading offensive option with 293 kills and 331.0 points. She is averaging 3.18 kills and 3.60 points per set while hitting .236. Gash has also added 203 digs (2.21 per set) and 37 total blocks (three solo and 34 assists). She recorded 16 kills while hitting .552 in Akron's Nov. 7 sweep of Central Michigan.

Ozoh at the Net: Ozoh continues to be a key presence at the net, leading Akron with 109 total blocks (24 solo and 85 assists) and a 1.00 blocks-per-set average. She also ranks second on the team with 240 kills, averages 2.20 kills per set and leads the Zips with a .394 hitting percentage. Ozoh recorded eight blocks against Western Michigan on Oct. 8.

Christensen Directing the Offense: Christensen leads Akron with 476 assists through 79 sets, averaging 6.03 assists per set while directing the Zips' offensive attack. She has also recorded 131 digs (1.66 per set) and 14 service aces. Christensen dished out 25 assists in Akron's Nov. 7 sweep of Central Michigan.

Prascevic Providing Depth at Setter: Prascevic has totaled 353 assists and 115 digs through 71 sets. She averages 4.97 assists and 1.62 digs per set while contributing to Akron's offensive attack. She has also recorded seven service aces and two total blocks. Prascevic's 50 assists against Coppin State on Sept. 11 are the highest single-match total by an Akron player this season.

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Players Mentioned

Jordyn Aeschliman

Sarah Bettis

Reilly Chausse

Clara Christensen

Vanessa Del Real

Payton Evans

Delaney Gash

Chiara Gennari

Chidera Ozoh

Masa Prascevic

Lauren Wilson

Lyndi Wolf

The University of Akron Athletics