The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Volleyball stopped short by Miami (Ohio) in four sets
September 26 | Women's Volleyball
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AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron volleyball team had big nights from its middle blockers, but it was not enough to hold off a late rally from Miami (Ohio) in a four set loss Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
In what was the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams, Akron started strong but fell short down the stretch (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23). The result puts UA at 6-10 (0-1 MAC), while Miami moves to 8-5 (1-0 MAC).
Mary Delich led the Zips offensively, posting 11 kills and just two errors in 21 attempts to hit .429 on the night. Kelsey Wilson followed suit with 10 kills and a .348 clip. Julia Smagacz also added 10 kills to go with a .350 hitting percentage.
Karley Kusan notched her third double-double of the season with 39 assists and 11 digs. She was one of four Zips to finish with double-digit digs, a group that was led by Aubrey Kozer's 13 digs. Dragana Micic and Callie Mack each chipped in 12.
Delich was also sharp defensively, tallying two solo blocks and having a hand in four block-assists. Akron and Miami each had nine total team blocks for the match.
Olivia Rusek was the offensive power for Miami, leading both teams with 17 kills.
The difference in the match ultimately came down to unforced errors, as the Zips were held back with 27 miscues to the RedHawks' 19.
Akron took control early in the first set, methodically staying ahead of Miami and building a four-point advantage off a Wilson kill to make the score 12-8. The RedHawks crept back to tie the score at 15 and again at 18 before Akron called a timeout to settle its game plan.
Miami scored two more points out of the huddle before Wilson threw down back-to-back kills to lock it at 20-all. Rusek answered with a kill for Miami before the Zips fired back to score five-straight and take the set. Delich issued a solo stuff and a kill during the final stretch to seal the score for Akron. The Zips out-hit the RedHawks .295 to .192 in that first set.
The second set turned the tables, although Akron played in pace with Miami throughout most of the frame. The score would tie a total of 11 times, the final time at 19-all after another block at the hands of Delich. But Miami would use three Akron errors and a pair of Rusek kills to score on five of the last six plays to tie the match at one set apiece.
After the intermission, Akron was plagued once again by errors late in the third and fourth sets. Trailing the match 2-1, the Zips came firing out of the gate in the fourth, tying the score at five, six and seven and spurring a 5-0 run that forced a Miami timeout.
UA built its lead to 15-9 and the RedHawks paused again to regroup. Miami retaliated with six unanswered points to tie the score at 15, but an Akron 7-1 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Amanda Bedell, put the score at 22-16 when it seemed like a fifth set was looming.
Miami had other plans however, picking up points on four Akron errors and two more kills from Rusek to muster a 9-1 final push to steal the set and the match.
The Zips return to the floor on Saturday, Sept. 27 when they host Bowling Green at the JAR. First serve is set for 5 p.m. The Falcons lost to Buffalo in three sets on Friday night.
