The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bowling Green
Volleyball shuts out Bowling Green for first MAC victory
September 27 | Women's Volleyball
Follow Akron Volleyball on Twitter and Facebook | Buy Tickets
Final Statistics | Final Statistics (PDF) | Season Statistics
Arenz Postgame Video and Highlights
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron volleyball team picked up its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season in decisive fashion Saturday night, shutting out Bowling Green (26-24, 26-24, 25-22) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The win snapped a five-match skid for Akron, and is UA's first triumph over BGSU since the 2010 season when the Zips won on the road in five sets.
Senior Mary Delich led the way for Akron (7-10, 1-1 MAC), tying her career high with 14 kills and hitting .308. Delich has hit .300 or better in her last three outings.
Anna Wenger and Kelsey Wilson played big roles offensively as well, adding nine kills apiece. As a team, Akron out-hit Bowling Green .254 to .176 for the match, recording its highest attack percentage of the season to date.
Kelsey Bates posted a team-high 11 kills for BGSU (3-11, 0-2 MAC).
The first set started off slow, and neither team could build much of a lead until later down the line. BGSU broke a 14-all tie with a kill from Michaela Gabanic to go on a 6-1 run that an Akron timeout could not stop. The tables would turn quickly turn however, as UA countered by scoring seven of the next nine points, topped off by a pair of kills from Wenger that knotted the set at 22.
The score tied again at 23 before the Falcons had the first crack at set point. Delich found a rhythm, issuing an equalizing kill and then another to put the Zips ahead 25-24. A Bowling Green ball handling error finished it off, giving Akron the 1-0 advantage.
Energy was high on both sides of the net to start the pivotal second, which saw 12 tie scores as the teams traded momentum.
Kills by Wilson and Julia Smagacz combined with a BGSU attack error helped the Zips to a 22-18 advantage late in the set. The Falcons responded with an 8-6 run, including two scores that held off the Zips in set point scenarios, to tie it at 24 before Amanda Bedell and Delich posted a pair of clutch set-ending kills. Akron ended the second frame hitting .483 with 18 kills to the BGSU's .286.
The third set concluded in dramatic fashion yet again, with UA recovering from a 20-16 deficit and scoring on seven of the final nine plays. With a 23-22 advantage, Bedell issued kills on back-to-back sequences to seal the Akron victory.
The Zips are back in action when they travel to take on neighborhood rival Kent State for the first installment of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge on Friday, Oct. 3. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
