Akron Volleyball Wins Five-Set Thriller to Open Conference Play

Thursday, September 26

Buffalo, NY

6 PM

University of Akron

8-2

Buffalo

4-9

Akron

Buffalo

Akron Volleyball Wins Five-Set Thriller to Open Conference Play

September 26 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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Box Score (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Akron Volleyball earned its first conference win of the season in a hard-fought, back-and-forth match over Buffalo, topping them in five sets (25-19, 25-15, 27-29, 24-26, 15-10) Thursday night in Buffalo, N.Y.

Akron improves to 8-4, while Buffalo falls to 4-9.

Leading the way offensively for the Zips were junior Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio), and senior Ashley Richardson (Doylestown, Ohio) who finished with 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Junior setter Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) dished out 44 assists, while adding five aces.

The Zips played stellar defense, finishing the match with a record-high 100 digs, as four players finished with 15 or more digs. Leading the way were junior defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio), and Adleta, who finished with 26 and 23 kills, respectively. Also contributing were senior Elya Karsner (Frankfort, Ky.) and Weigand, who totaled 16 and 15 digs, respectively.

In the first set, the two teams fought hard, however the Zips were able to gain an early 8-4 lead, thanks to a four-point run, which included two consecutive aces by Weigand, as well as kills by Weigand and Adleta.

The Bulls were able to rally, and eventually tie the game at 11, and again at 12. The Zips, however, would retake the lead thanks to a block by Richardson and Weigand, and would not lose the lead for the remainder of the set. Akron went on to win, 25-19.

In the second set, the Zips were able to continue their dominance on the court. After tying the game at four, Akron were able to rattle off four consecutive points, capped off with a kill by
(Lakewood, Ill.), forcing Buffalo to call its first timeout of the set.

Out of the timeout, the Zips continued their run for five more points, increasing the lead, 13-4. Akron were able to maintain its lead, as the point differential did not sink below six points for the remainder of the set. Akron took the second set, 25-15.

The Bulls, however, would not go down without a fight. The third set saw a much stronger performance from Buffalo, which included eight ties and four lead changes. The Zips held a 14-11 lead midway through the set, however the Bulls were able to respond well, winning eight of the next 11 points, putting them ahead, 19-17.

The Bulls held the lead for the next 11 points, however the resilient Zips were able to fight back and tie the match at 24, thanks to a kill by Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio). Consecutive side outs from both sides eventually re-tied the game at 27, until a two-point run by the Bulls propelled them to win the set, 29-27.

The highly competitive play would continue through the fourth set, which saw 15 ties and 10 lead changes. The set also saw the point differential not grow larger than three points. The Zips were able to gain an early 10-7 lead over the Bulls, however they responded well by rattling off four points of their own, retaking the lead, 11-10.

The two teams did a great job of siding out throughout the set, however, after Akron took a late 24-23 lead, the Bulls called a timeout and came out of the timeout firing, scoring three consecutive points, and taking the fourth set, 26-24.

The fifth set followed suit of the previous two early, as the Zips were able to gain an early 4-2 lead over the Bulls, who responded with three of their own, pulling ahead 5-4. The resilient Zips were able to retake the lead, 7-6 as the two teams switched sides.

Weigand continued her serving dominance out of the side-change, scoring another ace and putting Akron up by two. After two consecutive side outs, an attack error by the Bulls forced them to call their first timeout of the final set. With the Akron holding the a 11-9 lead, the next point would be one like no other, as the two teams were involved in a rally that lasted about one minute and forty seconds, which included the ball crossing the net 21 times, and roughly 80 combined touches between the teams. The Zips ultimately won that point, thanks to an attack error by the Bulls.

Coach Tom Hanna proceeded to call a timeout to give his girls a breather after winning a long, crucial point. After a kill by Buffalo, the Zips were able to finish the set and ultimately the match, thanks to a three-point run, capped off with a big block by Adleta and Richardson.

"It was a great road win to start off MAC play. We continue to be very good in serve and pass, which translated well to a good offensive night. This was thanks in large part to our passing, digging 100 balls and blocking over two balls a set, which our serving influenced. We look forward to coming home to the James A. Rhodes Arena Saturday night, and continuing our strong play in front of our fans" said head coach Tom Hanna.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Zips will return to James A. Rhodes Arena to host its first home conference match of the season, taking on Ball State at 7 p.m.