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Zips Secure 3-1 Victory Over Cleveland State
September 03 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio -The Akron volleyball team knocked off the Cleveland State Vikings in four sets (25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17) on Wednesday on the road at Woodling Gym.
The non-conference win improved Akron's overall record to 2-2 on the season.
The Zips offense was paced by Delaney Gash, who finished with 18 kills on the day while setting a career-high in assists (4)and digs (19) while Jordyn Aeschliman added a career-high 15 and Maureen Mathews chipped in with 15 as part of a balanced Akron attack. Defensively, had three players reach double figures in digs, including Vanessa Del Real's 18, 15 from Reilly Chausse, and 12 more from Martina Villani.
Villani also set a career-high in assists, recording 38 against the Vikings and recorded her first double-double of the season with her career-high 12 digs. Del Real set a new career-high in assists with nine to add to the Zips offense.
Game Notes
» Akron had three players in double figures in kills.
» Akron had three players in double figures in digs.
» Del Real had a match-high three aces in the win.
» Akron never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-17.
» Gash had a team-high 18 kills for Akron.
» Akron got a match-high 18 digs from Del Real.
» Akron attackers were helped by a match-high 38 assists from Villani.
» Along with her career-high in assists and digs, Villani set career-highs in kills (3) and blocks (2).
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Zips opened up an early one-set-to-none lead, winning the first set 25-20. Akron never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14after erasing a three-point deficit, the Vikings' largest lead of the set. This came in a set that featured 11 ties and six lead changes.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Akron put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-17 victory in set number two. The Zips grabbed the set powered by a strong performance on the attacking side. Akron put together a .343 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. The Zips ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.
SET 3 | Akron saw its chance for a 3-0 sweep end when Cleveland State took set three. The Zips dropped the third set 25-23. Cleveland State grabbed the advantage for good at 16-15 in a set that was tied up nine times before the Vikings took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 4 | Akron then responded to finish off the match with a 25-17 fourth-set victory. The Zips scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the victory. Akron opened up as much as an eight-point lead at 17-9 before closing out the stanza. Akron got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked six Cleveland State attacks in the stanza.
What's Next?
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena for a pair of games this weekend, with the first being a visit from East Tennessee State on Friday, September 5, for a 6 p.m. start.
