Zips Host Buffalo & Journey to Western Michigan This Week

AKRON, Ohio – Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday, October 7, to battle the Buffalo Bulls earlier than touring to Western Michigan for a pair of video games beginning on Thursday, October 9.

How To Follow The Action

(Tuesday) Buffalo: Stats | Video

(Thursday) Western Michigan: Stats | Video

(Friday) Western Michigan: Stats | Video

Stat Leaders

Akron: Kills: Delaney Gash (225) | Assists: Martina Villani (569) | Points: Delaney Gash (240) | Aces: Vanessa Del Real (31) | Digs: Vanessa Del Real (220) | Blocks: Chidera Ozoh (61)

Buffalo: Kills: Emerson Matthews (149) | Assists: Maddie Mitchell (370) | Points: Emerson Matthews (171) | Aces: Eve Adams (13) | Digs: Keira Kieldon (140) | Blocks: Tehya Shaw (26)

Western Michigan: Kills: Annalise Patchett (172) | Assists: Leah Richmond (626) | Points: Molly Brown (201.5) | Aces: Molly Brown (21) | Digs: Elana Erickson (309) | Blocks: Molly Brown (57)

A Look At The Series

Buffalo: Akron Leads 31-27 | Norton vs Buffalo: 0-6

First Played:Nov. 7, 1992 (Akron 3, Buffalo 1)

Last Played: Oct. 22, 2024 (Akron, 2, Buffalo 3)

Akron and Buffalo will battle for the 59th time within the all-time sequence. Akron leads the sequence 31-27 whereas the Bulls have taken seven straight from the Zips, with the final Akron victory approaching Oct. 13, 2021. Akron fell to Buffalo twice final season, with the ultimate recreation towards the Bulls going to a fifth set.

The Zips started the sequence with 16 consecutive victories over the Bulls earlier than UB gained the subsequent 4.

Western Michigan: Akron Trails 13-33 | Norton vs Western Michigan: 1-5

First Played: Sept. 18, 1992 (Akron 2, Western Michigan 3)

Last Played: Oct. 25, 2024 (Akron 2, Western Michigan 3)

Akron and Western Michigan will battle for the forty seventh and forty eighth time within the all-time sequence. The Zips presently path 13-33 within the sequence with the Broncos taking the final 4 contests. Akron final defeated WMU on Sept. 30, 2022 in a 3-2 contest. Last season noticed Akron go 0-2 towards the Broncos, with the ultimate of two video games going to a fifth set.

Common Opponents (Non-MAC faculties)

Buffalo: None

Western Michigan: Northern Kentucky (Horizon), Green Bay (Horizon)

Zips At A Glance

Akron enters the week with an 8-7 general report and a 1-3 report within the MAC.

The Zips cut up the earlier week with a 3-1 win at Ohio whereas falling 3-1 at Kent State.

Akron begins the week with Buffalo on the JAR on Tuesday, whereas touring to battle Western Michigan on Thursday and Friday.

Delaney Gash led the Zips’ offense with 40 kills the previous week, which featured a 24 kill efficiency and a .366 hitting proportion at Ohio. Martina Villani led Akron in assists with 85. Villani had 53 at Ohio whereas recording a double-double behind a career-high 15 digs. She additionally set a career-high in blocks (4) at Kent State. Lyndi Wolf set a career-high in blocks (7) at Kent State, whereas Vanessa Del Real recorded 35 digs on the week and tied her career-high in aces (5) at Kent State.

The Zips are led by Gash in kills (225) and factors (240) whereas Villani leads the best way in assists (569). Del Real is the chief in aces (31) and digs (220). Chidera Ozoh is the Zips’ chief in blocks (61).

Scouting Report

Buffalo: The Bulls enter the week with a 4-9 general report and a 1-3 report within the MAC.

After dropping their first three MAC contest, the Bulls earned a 3-2 victory over Ohio on October 4. Buffalo dropped the primary set, however responded with wins within the second, fourth and fifth units. Prior to its win over Ohio, Buffalo had misplaced the earlier six contests.

After the midweek contest at Akron, Buffalo will host Central Michigan for a pair of video games beginning on Friday, October 10.

Buffalo is led by Emerson Matthews in kills (149) and factors (171). Maddie Mitchell is the chief in assists (370) whereas Eve Adams leads the best way in aces (13). Keira Kieldon is the Bulls’ chief in digs (140) and Tehya Shaw is the chief in blocks (26)

The Bulls are ranked within the prime 5 within the MAC for fewest opp blocks (1st – 84.5), fewest opp blocks per set (2nd – 1.80), fewest opp digs (1st – 603) and fewest opp digs per set (third – 12.83).

Individually, Matthews is ninth in whole kills (149) and kills per set (3.24), whereas ranked ninth in whole factors (171) and factors per set (3.72). Manoela Forlin is ranked tenth for whole kills (148), eighth in kills per set (3.36), tenth in whole factors (166) and eighth in factors per set (3.77). Mitchell is eighth in whole assists (370) and seventh in assists per set (8.41). Kieldon is ranked tenth in whole digs and eighth in digs per set (3.41).

The Bulls have been picked to complete fifth within the MAC Preseason ballot.

Western Michigan: The Broncos are 6-11 general and 3-1 within the MAC getting into the week.

Western Michigan will journey to Northern Illinois on Tuesday earlier than internet hosting the Zips for a pair of video games beginning on Thursday, October 9.

After profitable their first two MAC contests, the Broncos went 1-1 final week with a 3-1 win at Miami and a 3-1 loss at Ball State.

Western Michigan is led by Annalise Patchett in kills (172), whereas Molly Brown leads the best way in factors(201.5), aces (21) and blocks (57). Leah Richmond paces the Broncos in assists (626) whereas Elana Erickson leads the best way in digs (309). 

In the MAC, the Broncos rank within the prime 5 in whole assists (third – 757), assists per set (fifth – 11.65), whole kills (4th – 12.20), whole blocks (fifth – 119), whole digs (1st – 1125) and digs per set (1st – 17.31).

Individually, Richmond is 1st in whole assists (626) and assists per set (9.63). Erickson is 1st in whole digs (309) and digs per set (4.75). Amanda Glanton ranks tenth for blocks per set (.94).

In the NCAA, Western Michigan ranks ninth in digs per set (17.31), thirty second in whole assists (757), fifth in whole digs (1125) and 51st in whole kills (793).

Individually, Richmond ranks 51st in assists per set (9.63) and 4th in whole assists (626). Erickson ranks twenty sixth in digs per set (4.75) and thirteenth in whole digs (309).

Western Michigan was picked to complete 4th within the MAC Preseason ballot.

Milestones To Watch For

• Vanessa Del Real is 421 digs from tying Jennifer Borton (1992-95) for tenth in all-time digs (1,469).
• Del Real is eighteen aces away from tying Ashley Lewis (1997-2000) for tenth in all-time aces (136).
• Del Real is 164 assists away from 500 as a Zip.
• Martina Villani is 146 assists away from 1,000 as a Zip.
• Maureen Mathews is 348 kills away from 1,000 profession kills.
• Mathews is 286 factors away from 1,000 in her profession.
• Reilly Chausse is 205 digs away from 500 as a Zip.
• Delaney Gash is 127 kills away from 500 as a Zip.
• Gash is 99.5 factors away from 500 as a Zip.
• Jordyn Aeschliman is 17 kills away from 100 as a Zip.
• Chidera Ozoh is 39 blocks away from 100 as a Zip.
• Lyndi Wolf is 1 kill away from 100 as a Zip.
• Gabby Brissett is 223 kills away from 500 as a Zip.
• Brissett is 161 kills away from 750 profession kills.

Career-Highs

• Vanessa Del Real tied her career-high for aces (5, at Ohio 10/3/25).
• Chidera Ozoh tied her career-high in kills (7, at Ohio 10/3/25).
• Masa Prascevic set career-highs in assists (6) and digs (4), each at Kent State (10/4/25).
• Martina Villani set a career-high in digs (15, at Ohio 10/3/25).
• Martina Villani set a career-high in blocks (4, at Kent State 10/4/25).
• Lyndi Wolf set a career-high in blocks (7, at Kent State 10/4/25).

Leaders In The MAC 
Akron ranks within the top-five within the MAC in factors per set (2nd – 16.80), hitting % (third – .219), , fewest opp assists per set (fifth – 11.25), whole assists (4th – 734), assists per set (2nd – 12.23),  fewest opp kills per set (fifth – 12.23), whole kills (third – 798), kills per set (2nd – 13.30), whole blocks (fifth – 98), whole aces (4th – 75), aces per set (fifth – 1.74), fewest opp digs (fifth – 775), and fewest opp digs per set (4th – 12.46).

Individually, the Zips see Delaney Gash ranked third in whole kills (225) and kills per set (3.95) whereas ranked 4th in whole factors (240) and fifth in factors per set (4.21). Maureen Mathews is fifth in whole kills (214), sixth in kills per set (3.57), sixth in whole factors (230) and seventh in factors per set (3.83). Vanessa Del Real is 1st in whole aces (31), 2nd in aces per set, (.52), sixth in whole digs and fifth in digs per set (3.67). Martina Villani is third in whole assists (569) and assists per set (9.48). Chidera Ozoh is fifth in whole blocks (61) and seventh in blocks per set (1.02).

Among The Best In The NCAA

As a group, Akron ranks 77th within the NCAA in assists per set (12.23), 71st in kills per set (13.30), 51st in whole assists (734) and forty fifth in whole kills (798).

Individually, Vanessa Del Real ranks twenty ninth within the NCAA in aces per set (.52) and 14th in whole aces (31). Martina Villani ranks 62nd in assists per set (9.48) and twenty fifth in whole assists (469). Delaney Gash ranks 77th in whole factors (240), 68h in kills per set (3.95) and forty fifth in whole kills (225). Maureen Mathews ranks 71st in whole kills (214).

Double-Doubles

Delaney Gash leads the Zips with 4 double-doubles after posting a 21-kill, 14 dig efficiency towards Ball State on Sept. 26. Martina Villani  has recorded three, with the newest coming at Ohio on Oct. 3 with a 53 help, 15 dig efficiency. Vanessa Del Real has one after recording a 17 dig, 10 help efficiency at Youngstown State on Sept. 18.

First Set Success

Akron has taken the primary set in six matches this season (vs Green Bay, at Cleveland State, vs ETSU, vs Cleveland State, vs Miami (OH), at Ohio), and have gone 5-1. The Zips have fallen within the first set 9 instances and have gone 3-6 in these matches.

What’s Next?

Akron stays on the highway because it travels to Central Michigan for a pair of convention contests on October 17 and 18.