The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Volleyball falls to Miami (Ohio) in four sets
November 01 | Women's Volleyball
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Three Zips hit for double figures led by Mary Delich with 11 kills, but Akron fell in four set to Miami (Ohio) on the road Saturday night (25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 25-14).
UA (8-19, 2-10 MAC) pushed the second set to extra points, stealing the victory and tying the match at one. Miami (16-8, 9-3 MAC) would fight back however, locking up the final two sets after intermission for the win.
Delich delivered her 11 kills in 24 attempts to hit a team-high .292 for the night. Julie Shallman and Julia Smagacz followed suit adding 10 kills apiece, fueled by Karley Kusan's 36 assists. Dragana Micic also added seven kills for the Zips.
Maris Below paced the Miami offense with a match-high 13 kills.
The two teams nearly matched each other dig-for-dig, as Akron posted 52 to Miami's 53. Ashley Holder registered 15 digs and Brenna Mack finished with 13.
Akron's strong second set started with a 5-0 run that set up a four-point lead. UA continued to keep the RedHawks at bay, scoring another five unanswered points midway through the frame to make the score 15-9. The stretch was highlighted by three-straight kills from Smagacz.
MU crept back into the game to tie it at 16-all, taking advantage of an Akron miscue. Shallman scored on two of the next three plays to give UA a 21-18 lead, but another error would allow Miami to regain its first lead since the opening point a few plays later at 22-21.
UA tied the score at 22, 23 and 24 before a kill from Amanda Bedell and a RedHawk error gave the second set to the Zips.
Akron kept it close in the beginning of the final two sets, but Miami was able to put together several big plays late in each frame to put the match away.
The Zips return to the court for their final homestand of the 2014 season Nov. 7-8. Akron will take on MAC East leader Ohio on Friday at 7 p.m., before the second round of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge against Kent State on Saturday at 5 p.m. Delich, Akron's lone senior, will be honored prior to her final home match at James A. Rhodes Arena.
