The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Volleyball closes season with four-set loss at Ball State
November 15 | Women's Volleyball
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- The University of Akron volleyball team concluded the 2014 season Saturday night, dropping a four-set decision on the road at Ball State (25-15, 18-25, 25-17, 25-22).
Akron finishes the year with an 8-23 overall record and a 2-14 mark in the Mid-American Conference. The result moved BSU to 17-12 and 11-5 in league play.
Julie Shallman led the UA attack with eight kills. Amanda Bedell and Mary Delich followed closely behind with seven and six kills, respectively. Karley Kusan delivered 27 assists.
On the defensive end, Brenna Mack posted a team-high 11 digs and Dragana Micic added seven. The Zips registered eight blocks as a team, thanks to four block-assists and a solo stuff from Delich. The senior finished the year with a team-best 91 blocks.
Ball State was paced by the one-two punch of Sabrina Mangapora (11 kills) and Kelly Hopkins (10 kills).
The Zips made their mark in the second set, coming out on the right side of a hard-fought battle to tie the match at one. The score would tie nine times before a result was decided, but Akron hung on down the stretch to prevail.
With the score knotted at 15-all, UA rattled off three-straight points capped by a service ace from Ashley Holder to force a Ball State timeout.
The two teams traded points until the 19-17 mark, when a BSU attack error keyed a 6-1 Akron run that was enough to see the it through to the end of the frame. A kill from Smagacz and a pair of aces from Kusan and Brenna Mack highlighted the stretch.
UA threatened to tie the match at two sets apiece late in the fourth, breaking another 15-all tie with a 5-1 run to take the lead at 20-16. Delich and Bedell teamed up for back-to-back blocks to put the stamp on the run as BSU called a timeout.
The Cardinals emerged from the huddle and scored eight unanswered points to get their first shot at match point. Akron held off Ball State for two plays but a final Cardinal block ended the match.
Akron loses just one senior to graduation this year. The Zips recently received commitments from two student-athletes to join the program for 2015-16.
