Zips Outlast Georgia Southern at Wake Forest Invitational, 3-2

Friday, September 7

Winston-Salem, NC

7 PM

University of Akron

5-2

Georgia Southern University

1-7

Akron

Georgia Southern

Zips Outlast Georgia Southern at Wake Forest Invitational, 3-2

September 07 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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Box Score (PDF)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The University of Akron volleyball team defeated Georgia Southern, 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11) in its opening match of the Wake Forest Invitational, Friday evening in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Zips improved to 5-2, while Georgia Southern fell to 1-7.

Akron is now 3-0 in five-set matches this season.

Sophomore Shelby Fulmer (Perrysburg, Ohio) led the Zips with a career-high 17 kills. Senior Kayla Gwozdz (Temperance, Mich.) and sophomore Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) aided in the offensive efforts with 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) paced the Zips with 38 assists, while also tying her career-high of five service aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits and Gwozdz had 13 digs, each, while senior Abbey Pawlak (Sylvania, Ohio) added 12.

At the start of the match, neither team could gain more than a three-point lead. Akron was able to capitalize on GSU errors in addition to a service ace from Weigand to pull ahead, 15-10. The Eagles didn't get closer than six points to Akron for the remainder of the set, resulting in a 25-19 win for the Zips.

The second set sat locked at 11-all with the score being tied on six prior occasions. A 9-4 run sat the Eagles ahead 20-15. A kill from Adleta and a Georgia Southern attacking error put the Zips within two. However, back-to-back kills sealed the second set for the Eagles, 25-21.

The Zips held an early 4-3 edge to start out the third set when a 10-3 run would give the Eagles the lead. A late run would set the Zips within two points, but ultimately the Eagles took set three, 25-20.

Back-to-back kills from Fulmer accompanied by a service ace by Gwozdz gave Akron an early 4-1 lead to begin the fourth set. GSU inched its way back into the contest, earning a 19-14 advantage. A 6-0 run that saw kills from Gwozdz, Adleta, and junior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) in addition to a service ace from Pawlak gave the Zips a 20-19 edge. The Eagles led 23-21 when four consecutive points capped off by a Weigand service ace sealed the fourth set for the Zips, locking the match at 2-2.

Aside from a 1-1 tie, Georgia Southern led throughout the beginning of the final set, holding a 6-8 edge. A 3-1 run from Akron, tied the set at 9-all. The team traded leads before the score sat tied once again at 11. Four consecutive points including kills from Gwozdz and another Weigand service ace would help the Zips close out the match with a 15-11 fifth set win.

As a team, Akron hit .214, compared to Georgia Southern at .182.

The Zips will take on Elon and Wake Forest on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.