Tournament Preview: Akron Travels to DePaul

Follow Akron Volleyball on Facebook and Twitter

THIS WEEK
This week Akron will battle three different non-conference opponents at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago, Ill. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10-11. The Zips open the two-day event on Friday against Penn at 1 p.m. followed by a battle with DePaul at 8 p.m. Akron and Oakland will battle on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the McGrath-Phillips Arena. Select matches are scheduled for broadcast on FloSports. Fans can also follow the action via live stats on GoZips.com.

GAME COVERAGE

Akron vs. Penn
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3hjXaUW

Akron vs. DePaul
Video: https://bit.ly/2VqYXzS
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3hjXaUW

Akron vs. Oakland
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3hjXaUW

ABOUT THE ZIPS
The Akron Zips volleyball team stands 4-2 overall after going 1-2 last weekend at the Virginia Tournament, dropping to Winthop 3-0, and Virginia, 3-2, and claiming a 3-2 five-set comeback against William and Mary.

Following the match, senior Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) was named to the Virginia All-Tournament Team. For the tournament Kelly tallied 30 kills, 2.69 K/S, .299 hitting % and registered 11 blocks.

The Akron Zips volleyball program opens its seventh year under the direction head coach Tom Hanna. The Zips return 13 players from last season's shortened Spring campaign, including the 2020 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-MAC selection in senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio). In 90 sets (22 matches) played last season, Sharrits anchored the Zips' defense with a career-high 535 total digs and 5.94 digs per set. She finished regular season play ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in total digs and No. 5 in the nation in digs per set, and after the NCAA women's volleyball championships, she ranked No. 2 in total digs and No. 6 in digs per set.

Sharrits led the MAC in both categories and rewrote Akron's record book in digs and digs per set, moving to eighth all-time in single-season dig performances, while claiming the best single-season digs per set performance in program history. In addition, Sharrits owns 1,984 career digs in 423 sets played (111 matches), which ranks third all-time at Akron.

Sharrits collected two MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and registered 20 or more digs in 15 matches with six performances delivering 30-plus digs. She posted a career-best 41 digs against Toledo. That performance ranks third all-time at Akron. In addition, Sharrits was recently named to the 2021 East Division All-MAC team

The Zips return 5-of-6 top attackers and from last season as senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio), senior RS Teagan Ochaya (Mentor, Ohio), junior LS Jenn Durra (Painesville, Ohio), junior MB Megan Kelly (Lakewood, Ill.) and freshman LS/RS Faith Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) all collected over 100 kills last year. Adleta led the squad with 279 kills (3.24 k/set) followed by Ochaya (169 K, 2.06 K/set), Durra (137 K, 2.08 K/set), Kelly (127 K, 1.41 K/set) and Johnson (101 K, 1.80 K/set).

This group also made an impact on the defensive side of the net as Kelly paced the Zips blocking efforts with 83 total blocks and added 19 digs, while junior MB Hannah Yaconis (Batavia, Ill.) ranked second in denying attacks with 55 total blocks. Other contributors included, Adleta (233 digs, 29 blocks), Durra (107 digs, 17 blocks), Ochaya (65 digs, 41 blocks) and Johnson (65 digs, 14 blocks). In addition, sophomore DS Lauren Latka (Zionsville, Ind.) collected 102 digs.

Assisting the majority of Akron's points in 2020 was senior S Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio), tossing 598 assists or 6.64 assists per set. In addition, Weigand distributed the team's most service aces (45) and added 34 kills, 186 digs and four blocks. Her 45 service aces ranked No. 1 in MAC play and No. 2 in the NCAA.

Four players will be making their collegiate debuts for the Blue and Gold this weekend as Akron's newcomers include MB Karleighana Jones (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains HS/USANY Volleyball), RS Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy HS/Mintonette Sports), LS Gia Padilla (Apollo Beach, Fla./Carrollwood Day School/OTVA Volleyball) and S Baylee Vaught (Fort Mill, S.C./Indian Land HS/Carolina Union).

In the opening match of the doubleheader, the Zips hung tough against the Eagles in the final two sets, but Akron was unable to take a set as Winthrop claimed all three (24-18, 26-24, 25-23). Adleta led the Zips' offense with nine kills, while Weigand and Sharrits both tallied double-figure digs with 10 and 14, respectively.

Akron fought hard in the nightcap forcing five sets but came up short against Virginia by scores of 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 12-15. Despite holding Virginia to a.139 hitting percentage, the Cavaliers out-blocked the Zips, 16-6.

In the tournament finale, despite trailing 10-7 in the fifth set, the Akron volleyball team completed a five-set comeback over William and Mary.

The Zips had four players reach double figures in kills with Durra leading the way with 15 kills. Adleta and Kelly each had 13, while Ochaya added 12 kills. Sharrits led the team with 18 digs, while Kelly recorded a team-high five blocks.

Chasing Milestones
Senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) is chasing history, needing only 24 digs to set a new all-time record at Akron. The 2,007-dig milestone was set by Karen Godzinski (1989-92). Sharrits currently has 1,984 career digs.

In addition, Akron assists leader senior S Emily Weigand (Burton, Ohio) ranks fifth all-time at Akron with 3,680 assists. She is 320 assists away from eclipsing the 4,000 career assists threshold. Kim Schaper (1996-99) ia Akron's all-time leader with 5,619 assists.

Chasing 1,000 career marks are Weigand and senior LS Alexis Adleta (West Chester, Ohio). Weigand needs 21 digs to reach 1,000 and currently has 979 digs. Adleta is nearing 1,000 kills and digs, needing 46 kills for the 1,000 mark with 954 career kills and 230 digs to reach 1,000 with 770 total digs.

SCOUTING PENN
Friday's match marks the first meeting in series history between Akron and Penn.

Penn is 3-0 this season, claiming victories in all three matches at the Sheraton University City Volleyball Invite to Bucknell (3-0), Canisius (3-0), and Coppin State (3-1). The Quakers are led by junior Autumn Leak who earned Ivy League Player of the Week after finishing the tournament with where she finished the weekend with 50 kills and a .311 hitting percentage. Bossler played in all 10 sets to date, averaging a team-high 5.00 kills per set while hitting a .311 percentage. Margaret Planek also played every set to date, averaging 3.38 kills and 1.50 digs per set, while Caroline Douglas leads the Quakers with 5.22 digs per set.

SCOUTING DEPAUL
Akron and DePaul are meeting for the seventh time in series history with the Zips leading the series 4-2. The last time the two teams met was during the 1990 season. Akron posted a 3-2 win.

DePaul is coming off a 1-2 showing at the Beavercreek Invitational with wins over Marshall (3-2) and losses to Ball State (3-0) and Wright State (3-1). Rachel Krasowski earned Big East Honor Roll this week after her performance last weekend at the Beavercreek Invitational. She registered 77 digs across three matches, averaging 6.42 per set. Donna Brown paces the Blue Demons' offense with 56 kills, averaging 2.55 kills per set.

SCOUTING OAKLAND
OU stands 2-3 overall after posting a 2-0 performance at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational. Oakland secured wins over Bradley (3-2) and Eastern Michigan (3-0). Four different Golden Grizzlies reached double-digit kills, while fifth-year senior Lindsay Wightman paced the defense with a match-leading 31 digs. As a team, Oakland held the Braves to a mere .114 hitting percentage. OU followed the nail-biting match with a straight-set win against in-state foe Eastern Michigan. The Golden Grizzlies clicked offensively with a season-high .295 hitting percentage and seven aces. After the tournament, a pair of seniors in Lindsay Wightman and Jessica Riedl garnered All-Tournament Team honors.

2021 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green – 72 points (12 first place votes)
2. Kent State – 53 points
3. Miami – 51 points
4. Ohio – 37 points
5. Akron – 25 points
6. Buffalo – 14 points

2021 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Central Michigan – 63 points (5 first place votes)
2. Ball State – 60 points (3)
3. Western Michigan – 49 points (3)
4. Toledo – 36 points (1)
5. Northern Illinois – 26 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 18 points

Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (10), Kent State (1), Western Michigan (1)

East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Taylor Sharrits, Akron
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Milla Malik, Buffalo
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State

West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Lauren Gilliland, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIPS
Akron will travel to College Park, Md. for the Maryland Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17-18. The Zips are scheduled to play Maryland at 7 p.m. on Friday followed by Columbia (10:30 a.m.) and Stony Brook (4:30 p.m.) on Saturday. Fans can follow the all the action via live stats on GoZips.com.

AKRON QUICK HITS

Megan Kelly was named to the Virginia All-Tournament Team. For the tournament Kelly tallied 30 kills, 2.69 K/S, .299 hitting % and registered 11 blocks.
Emily Weigand ranks 34^th in the country in assists (220)
Weigand is averaging a team-best 9.17 assists/set
Megan Kelly ranks second in conference stats in total blocks (26), while ranking second in blocks per set (1.08)
Akron's three wins to start season best start since 2013

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexis Adleta

Faith Johnson

Karleighana Jones

Megan Kelly

Ellen Kinnaird

Lauren Latka

Teagan Ochaya

Gia Padilla

Taylor Sharrits

Baylee Vought

Emily Weigand

Emily Weigand

Hannah Yaconis

The University of Akron Athletics