The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Volleyball topped by Eastern Michigan, 3-0
October 25 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron volleyball team fell to Mid-American Conference West Division foe Eastern Michigan in three sets on Saturday at James A. Rhodes Arena (25-15, 25-16, 25-15).
UA (8-17, 2-8 MAC) started each set out strong but was outlasted by EMU (14-10, 5-5 MAC) down the stretch.
Julia Smagacz led the Akron attack with nine kills and a .381 hitting percentage for the match. Anna Wenger and Julie Shallman each chipped in five kills for the Zips. Karley Kusan kept the offense rolling with 19 assists, and was one dig short of a double-double with nine.
As a team, Akron picked up 40 digs over the three sets, led by libero Brenna Mack with 10.
Eastern Michigan out-hit Akron .284 to .115, fueled by Stacey Perinar's 12 kills. Corynne Smith tallied a match-high 21 digs for the Eagles.
Akron kept the score close early on in the first set, scoring three consecutive points thanks to a pair of kills from Wenger and Smagacz to make the score 10-7 EMU. Eastern would counter with a 6-0 run of its own that would prove to create enough distance for it to claim set one.
The Zips came roaring back in the second, sprinting out to a 7-3 lead keyed by a monster block from Kusan and Shallman that forced Eastern Michigan to take a timeout. The Eagles hung around to tie the score at eight and nine, but did not fully break free until an 8-1 run capped by a service ace from setter Jill Briner made it 20-12.
UA held another early lead in the third set, grabbing a 5-2 advantage on an ace from Kusan and a solo stuff from Jessica Kloehn. Eastern continued to chip away and keep the Zips on their toes, stringing together points and pulling away midway through the frame.
Akron continues MAC play next weekend when it makes its way back through the East Division. The Zips are set to travel to Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 31 for a 5 p.m. match, before heading to Miami (Ohio) for a 7 p.m. contest on Saturday, Nov. 1.
