The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Volleyball extends winning streak to four with 3-1 victory over Toledo
October 27 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio – Akron used a steady offensive pace and a breakout performance from freshman Kelsey Wilson to take down Toledo in four sets Saturday, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22.
Wilson made her first career start and never looked back, posting a match-high 15 kills with just one error in 21 attempts. Her .667 hitting percentage for the night is No. 9 all-time in the program's record books for a single match, and is the highest clip recorded by an Akron player this season.
All together UA fielded five players with double-digit kills. Tina Dimitrijevs played a strong middle tandem with Wilson, tallying 12 kills and hitting .524. Alex Cocklin delivered 11 and Alex Wiederholt and Chelsea Harvey put down 10 apiece to balance the Zips' attack.
Creating the opportunity for the hitters to swing successfully was Morgan Kuhn, picking up her ninth double-double of the year. The setter ended the match with 11 digs and was one assist shy of her season-high mark with 52.
The Zips had no problem summoning their momentum from Thursday night's win at Buffalo to start the match as they dominated the first two sets against the Rockets in front of the hometown crowd. Akron overpowered Toledo on the attack, hitting .432 in the opening stanza and capitalizing on two separate 6-0 runs to run away with the set.
If they hit well in the first set, the Zips continued to roll in the second, combining for a .538 percentage to Toledo's .182. This time a 12-3 Akron run issued early on would be too much for UT to handle. Four unanswered UA points capped off by a block from Wiederholt and Wilson would be all the Zips would need to go ahead 2-0 heading into the break. UA is now 9-0 on the year when leading two sets to none.
Akron faltered midway through the third set, as the Zips fell behind by as many as seven and were unable to recover. Dimitrijevs came through with a monster kill and a solo block to hold off the Rockets for one set point, but Toledo held on to take the third set by four.
The Zips had to fight their way to the finish in the fourth set, rallying from four points down in the first six plays and playing the Rockets tight the rest of the way. The two teams traded points down the stretch until Akron was able to break a 19-all tie with four straight scores.
A kill from Harvey would bring the Zips to match point, but they would need three shots at it before they could convert, when Dimitrijevs issued the final blow to put Toledo away.
With its fourth straight victory, Akron improves its record to 14-10 overall and 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Pending the rest of Saturday's results from around the league, the conference mark may be enough to clinch a spot in the MAC Tournament beginning November 16.
The Zips return to the court for their final road weekend of the regular season Nov. 2-3 for two crucial East Division matches at Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green.
