The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
3-2,0-0MAC
East Tennessee State
1-4,0-0SoCon
Zips Post Home Opening 3-1 Win Over ETSU
September 05 | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio -The Akron volleyball team opened the 2025 home schedule with a four set, 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19) over the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on Friday.
The out-of-conference victory boosted the Zips' overall record to 3-2 on the season.
The Zips offense was paced by Delaney Gash, who finished with 15 kills on the day. Maureen Mathews added 13 and Jordyn Aeschliman chipped in with 10 as part of balanced Akron attack. Defensively, had two players reach double figures in digs as Vanessa Del Real had 13 and Reilly Chausse had 11. From the front row, Aeschliman contributed a career-high seven blocks and Lyndi Wolf added five rejections.
Game Notes
» Akron had three players in double figures in kills.
» Del Real had a match-high four aces in the win.
» Akron never trailed on the way to winning the second set 25-18.
» Akron never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-19.
» Gash had a match-high 15 kills for Akron.
» Akron got a team-high 13 digs from Del Real.
» Akron attackers were helped by a match-high 37 assists from Martina Villani.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Zips grabbed control of the set-one lead at 5-4 and held the lead the rest of the way to win 25-20. Akron led by as many as six points at 15-9 before closing out the set.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Akron put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-18 victory in set number two. The Zips scored first and never trailed in the set to earn the victory. Akron opened its biggest lead of the stanza, seven points, to close out the set, collecting 16 kills in the set. The Zips hit .393 over the course of the set.
SET 3 | East Tennessee State avoided an early loss with a set-three victory to make it a 2-1 match. The Zips couldn't endure a furious East Tennessee State rally, losing 25-23 after leading by nine points at 11-2 earlier in the set.
SET 4 | Akron then responded to end the match with a 25-19 set-four victory. The Zips led from the opening point on in the set to earn the victory. Akron opened up as much as a 10 point lead at 22-12 before finishing off the stanza, collecting 15 kills in the set. Akron got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four East Tennessee State attacks in the stanza.
What's Next?
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena tomorrow, Saturday, September 5, to battle American University at 1 p.m.
