Previews courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

Ball State Cardinals (13-8, 9-0 MAC)
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena for the next three matches, starting with a weekend series versus Ohio ... The Cardinals and Bobcats are set to square off at 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.
      
WHEN IN WORTHEN: The Cardinals boast a 328-103 (.761) all-time record inside Worthen Arena, including an 84-41 (.672) mark against non-conference foes and a 244-62 (.797) ledger versus league foes ... Overall, no MAC opponent owns a winning record inside Worthen Arena, as the Cardinals have at least a .630 winning percentage against all league schools on its current home floor ... Up next in Worthen will be Ohio (Oct. 24-25) who is 7-13 (.350) all-time in the building.
 
BALL STATE IN THE MAC: With a perfect 9-0 record in MAC play this season, Ball State maintains its status as the winningest program in league play with a 468-225 (.675) all-time MAC mark ... Western Michigan is second on the list, five matches behind the Cardinals at 463-230 (.668), while this week's opponent Ohio is sixth based on winning percentage at 397-294 (.575).
 
MORE ABOUT THE 9-0 START TO #MACtion: The 2025 season marks the sixth time in program history the Cardinals have won at least its first nine MAC matches of the year ... The last time was in 2023 when Ball State got off to a 9-0 start, on its way to a 15-3 league finish ... The Cardinals have boasted two perfect MAC seasons, going 18-0 in 1993 and 17-0 in 1994 ... BSU also won the first 10 matches of the 1997 campaign and the first nine matches in 2000.
 
SCOUTING BALL STATE:
• The Cardinals enter the weekend with a 13-8 overall record, including a perfect 9-0 mark in Mid-American Conference play ... The lone remaining undefeated team in #MACtion, Ball State earned a pair of road wins at Bowling Green last week, with a 3-2 victory Thursday and a 3-0 win Friday.
• Thanks to its sweep at BGSU last week, the Cardinals climbed six spots in the latest NCAA RPI Rankings, coming in at 45 this week after ranking 77th in the initial rankings and 51st last week ... Ball State is the highest ranked MAC team, with Toledo coming in second at 80.
• Ball State enters the week as one of the nation's top terminating teams, ranking third nationally with 1,159 total kills ... Only Valparaiso (1,217) and Towson (1,200) have more kills than the Cardinals ... 369 of Ball State's kills, which is second nationally, have come from the arm of sophomore outside Carson Tyler who also ranks first in the MAC and 29th nationally with a 4.34 kills-per-set average.
• In addition, the Cardinals lead the MAC and rank 37th nationally with a .259 team attack percentage ... Junior middle Camryn Wise is first in the league and 56th nationally with a .375 rate of success, while junior setter Lindsey Green ranks 89th nationally with 633 total assists and owns a 7.54 assists-per-set average.
 
 
Toledo Rockets (16-5, 7-2 MAC)
Friday, Oct. 24 / vs. Miami / Toledo, Ohio / 6:00 p.m. / Watch (ESPN+) / Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 25 / vs. Miami / Toledo, Ohio / 4:00 p.m. / Watch (ESPN+) / Live Stats

Volleyball returns to Savage Arena to host Miami for a pair of matches on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 24-25. Toledo enters the weekend holding second place in the MAC standings after picking up two wins over Northern Illinois this past weekend, including a 3-2 reverse sweep on Saturday. 


Bowling Green Falcons (12-9, 6-3 MAC)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team will be back on the road for the first time since Oct. 7, heading north to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face the Western Michigan Broncos. Both Bowling Green and Western Michigan enter the weekend with 6-3 MAC records, tied for third in the conference. The two will square off first on Friday (Oct. 24) with a 6 p.m. first serve before transitioning to a 4 p.m. start on Saturday (Oct. 25). Both matches will be available to stream on ESPN+. 

BGSU Schedule This Week
Friday, Oct. 24 | BGSU at Western Michigan | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Saturday, Oct. 25 | BGSU at Western Michigan | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

First Serve 

• Bowling Green will head on the road for a pair of matches at Western Michigan. BGSU and WMU are tied for third in the MAC, both with a 6-3 record in conference play. The two trail Ball State (9-0) and Toledo (7-2) in the MAC standings. 
• BGSU and WMU both enter the weekend leading the MAC in a defensive category. Bowling Green tops the blocks list, averaging 2.46 blocks per set as a team. As for Western Michigan, they lead the conference in digs per set with a mark of 17.44. 
• As a team, the Falcons have totaled 197 blocks this season, ranking 14th in the nation and 30 behind the national leader, Utah Valley. For the MAC, BGSU leads the conference in both total blocks as well as blocks per set (2.46).
• For the season, Bowling Green has held opponents to a hitting percentage of .180, ranking 50th in the nation and second in the MAC. Hofstra currently leads the stat, holding opponents to a .099 hitting percentage.
• Despite the change at the setter position following Amanda Otten's absence, the Falcons have totaled 944 assists this year, ranking 30th in the nation while ranking fourth in the conference for assists per set with 11.80. 
• This year, BGSU has landed 135 aces, tying for 33rd in the nation. The total is tied for third in the MAC with Eastern Michigan while trailing Ohio (142) and Toledo (184) with the Rockets currently leading the nation in the stat. 
• For the season, Bowling Green has landed a total of 1,012 kills as a team, ranking 40th in the nation with Towson topping the list at 1,200. Additionally, BGSU is averaging 12.7 kills per set, ranking fourth in the MAC. 
• Going back to the 2023 season, the Falcons have won 13 of their last 14 regular season MAC matches on the road. The lone loss came against Toledo on Oct. 7 in a four-set match. 
• Sydnie Hernandez is coming off being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week. The honor was the first for Hernandez of her BGSU career. She's the sixth different Falcon this season to be named a MAC Player of the Week and the second to be named a Defensive Player of the Week, joining Helen Wilford (Sept. 29). 

Hovey Returns To The Court
Lauryn Hovey returned to the court for the Falcons against Ball State after an absence from the lineup and immediately made an impact. After helping set the Falcons to a MAC title as a freshman in 2022, Hovey returned to the role against the Cardinals, logging 17 assists and 12 kills in both matches for BGSU. In the five-setter, Hovey came a dig shy of what would have been her fifth career triple-double. For the weekend, Hovey averaged 4.3 assists, 3.0 kills and 1.9 digs per set on her way to two double-doubles. 

Hernandez Takes Home MAC Award
Sydnie Hernandez earned her first career MAC Defensive Player of the Week honor after a strong weekend against Ball State. In the first match, Hernandez registered a career-high 26 digs for the Falcons while adding six assists. The 26 digs were the most by a Falcon this season and the most since the 2022 campaign. Hernandez followed it up in the second match with 17 digs in three sets, averaging 5.38 for the weekend.

Wilford Climbs National Ranks
Helen Wilford has been a force at the net for the Falcons this season, accumulating a team-high 90 blocks. The mark for Wilford is currently tied for 35th in the nation while being fourth in the Mid-American Conference. As for MAC play, Wilford is averaging 1.29 blocks per set, which ranks third in the conference. This past weekend, Wilford totaled 10 blocks for the Orange and Brown and has logged at least nine blocks per week every week during conference play. 


Western Michigan Broncos (9-13, 6-3 MAC)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team returns to Kalamazoo this weekend to begin the second half of its MAC schedule against Bowling Green. Saturday is Taylor Swift Night at University Arena, with ticket specials available at wmubroncos.com/taylorswiftnight.

WMU (9-13, 6-3 MAC) vs Bowling Green (12-9, 6-3)
Match One: Friday, Oct. 24 | 6 pm | TICKETS | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
Match Two: Saturday, Oct. 25 | 4 pm | TICKETS | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

HOME SWEET HOME
Following a pair of wins last weekend at Buffalo, Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo this weekend to begin a three-match homestand with a pair of contests against Bowling Green. The Broncos are 22-2 against MAC opposition at University Arena over the last three seasons.  

LAST TIME OUT
WMU is coming off of a weekend sweep at Buffalo last week, topping the Bulls in four sets on Friday and then earning a straight-set victory on Saturday. Leah Richmond collected a pair of double-doubles, and handed out 32 assists to help the Broncos hit a season-best .317 in Saturday's sweep. Mary Clare Brusek paced the attack with double-digit kills in both matches and an average of 3.57 per set while posting a .321 hitting percentage. 

BOYER'S MILESTONE
Moved to the libero role last weekend, Reeghan Boyer excelled defensively, racking up 33 digs (4.71/set) in the two matches. She totaled 22 digs in Friday's series-opening victory, with her 21st of the night marking the 1,000th of her WMU career. 


Ohio Bobcats (7-14, 5-4 MAC)
Oct. 24 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats 
Oct. 25 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats 

The Ohio volleyball team (7-14, 5-4 MAC) is back on the road and looking to continue its run this weekend when it heads to Muncie, Ind., for two matches against MAC-leading Ball State (13-8, 9-0 MAC). Ohio and the Cardinals open play on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. ET inside Worthen Arena. The two teams are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 25, with the first serve set for 4 p.m. ET. Both matches can be seen on ESPN+. 

Ohio is coming off two wins over Eastern Michigan last weekend, increasing its winning streak to five matches. The Bobcats took the first match in five sets before taking down the Eagles in four sets on Friday afternoon. 

On Thursday, the matchup between the Bobcats and Eagles was one of Ohio's closest games this season. Ohio finished with 63 kills, 10 aces, 13 blocks, 58 assists, and 93 digs. Eastern Michigan finished with 51 kills, six aces, nine blocks, 47 assists, and 81 digs. In Friday's match, Junior Gentry Brown led the team with 16 kills and 16.5 points. Junior Torre Kildow tallied 14 kills and freshman Bailey Blair tallied 11 kills. Sophomore Sierra Evans recorded a .667 attack percentage with eight kills on 12 total attacks. Evans also led the team in blocks with three block assists and a career-high two block solos.


Miami RedHawks (10-11, 4-5 MAC)
Fri., Oct. 24 at Toledo, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sat., Oct. 25 at Toledo, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Red and White continue conference play by traveling to Toledo this weekend for a pair of matches. The first match of the weekend will take place on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m., and the second match will happen on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. 

UP NEXT: The RedHawks continue conference play on the road with a match at Ball State on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.

NUMBERS WATCH: Gentry Warrick is currently tied for fourth all-time in Miami history with 1.00 career blocks per set. She holds a total of 82 career solo blocks (fifth all-time in Miami history). Warrick also ranks fourth in the nation in total blocks (108) and 19th in blocks per set (1.40). Warrick currently leads the MAC in both total blocks and blocks per set. Warrick's .289 hitting percentage also ranks ninth in the conference. The Red and White stand at 21st in the country in team total blocks (193.5) as well. 

RECENT ACTION: The RedHawks are coming off a week where they went 1-1 against the Kent State Golden Flashes at home. Offensively, junior outside hitter Chelsea Williams recorded 3.75 kills per set while maintaining a .231 hitting percentage over the two matches. Defensively, senior libero/defensive specialist Lindsay Kahren totaled 31 digs (3.88 digs/set) and went 34-for-34 (1.00) in serve receive across the two matches. On Thursday, Kahren had 16 digs to help the RedHawks win a five-set match over the Golden Flashes in a night where she reached 1,000 career digs. Senior Hayden Hicks also reached a career milestone of 2,000 assists against the Ball State Cardinals on Oct. 7. 


Central Michigan Chippewas (7-14, 4-5 MAC)
On Saturday against Akron, Natalia Rejmnet posted her fourth-straight double-double, her 5th of the 2025 season and 25th of her career. Akron faced no chance against the Polish power house. Rejment hit .373 across the two matches against the Zips, highlighted by a .500 with 19 kills & 10 digs performance. Friday night was a 14 kills/12 dig showing for Nat, giving her a weekend total of 33 K/22 D. Dating back to October 10th at Buffalo, Rejment has killed 62 balls and hit .284 with her four double-doubles. In her 17 kill and 15 dig game to open the stretch in New York, Rejment hit just .170, but has hit +.250 in the last three matches. Nat enters the games at Kent State with 3.38 kills/set, 3.12 digs/set, and 3.90 points/set since MAC play has started. The last Chippewa to record four or more straight double-doubles was Savannah Thompson in the 2021 season. Thompson had 6 straight to start her senior campaign and ended the 2020 season with nine straight, setting the program record for an outside hitter at 15-straight.

Natalia Rejment and Keelyn Muell were honored with MAC Offensive Player and MAC Setter of the Week awards on October 20th after the six-set double sweep over Akron. Central Michigan setter Keelyn Muell directed a balanced and efficient offense in a pair of sweeps over Akron, leading the Chippewas to a .323 team hitting percentage across the weekend. Muell dished out 79 assists over six sets, averaging 13.17 per set, while adding 14 digs, three blocks, and four service aces. Her precise setting and court leadership kept CMU’s attack in rhythm and powered the Chippewas to a two-MAC victory weekend. The Chippewas recorded 56 kills in the three-set match with Akron - the most in three sets by a Chippewa team since November 4th, 2010, when they tallied 54 against Toledo. Rejment continued to be a force on both sides of the ball this week, guiding the offense while anchoring the defense. The senior led the team with a .323 hitting percentage over two matches, scoring efficiently with just eight total attack errors. She also recorded her fourth straight double-double, showcasing her versatility with standout offensive and defensive performances. Rejment’s balance, consistency, and leadership were key factors in the team’s success throughout the weekend.

Throughout conference play, Central Michigan ranks third in the MAC with 57 service aces and 1.68/set. Brooklyn Conner leads the MAC with a .474 hitting percentage with 42 kills in her 17 sets played through conference play. At the net, Conner has totaled 1.18 blocks/set, good for 9th in the conference. Rejment ranks ninth in the conference with 3.38 kills/set, and 6th with 3.90 points/set. Keelyn Muell enters the matches with the Golden Flashes with 10.35 assists/set, which ranks her 3rd in the MAC. Central Michigan hit .361 as a team on Friday against the Zips, which is the second-highest hitting percentage in a match this season throughout MAC play across all teams in the conference. Also in Friday night's match, Central Michigan set a new program record for kills in a three-set match. CMU recorded 56 kills, surpassing the previous record of 54 set on November 4th, 2010. In that same match, the 50 assists were also the best in three sets in MAC play by any team.

The preseason schedule for the Chippewas was a tough run of matches - but it seems to be proving helpful as the Maroon & Gold work in Mid-American Conference play. Entering MAC play, CMU had a 3-9 record, and before the victory over Eastern Michigan had posted a nine-game losing streak. After defeating the Eagles, the Chippewas have won four of the last five - all sweeps.

Central Michigan has been running both Hannah Langton and Rainey Weidman at the libero position since the matches in Buffalo. In those four matches, the two have combined for 58 digs (4.46/set). Langton held down the libero position all season in 2024 for the Chippewas as a freshman, and both she and Weidman had been playing as a DS for the beginning of the season until Alina Anderson sustained an injury, and the two have found a groove.  


Northern Illinois Huskies (10-8, 3-6 MAC)
Friday, Oct. 24: at Akron, 5 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 25: at Akron, 3 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats

DeKALB, Ill.—Beginning a three-game road swing, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (10-8, 3-6 MAC) will travel to the University of Akron Zips (9-11, 2-7 MAC) for a pair of games this weekend, October 24-25.

The Huskies and Zips are set to have first serve at 5 p.m. CT on October 24 before concluding the series at 3 p.m. on October 25.
 
Huskie Leaders
Emma McCartney is leading the Huskies with 219 kills this season, an average of 3.13 per set. Ava Grevengoed is the second Huskies above 200 kills, averaging 2.82 per set. McCartney is in the top-10 of the MAC with kills per set.
 
It's a block party for Rylea Alvin, Autumn Flynn, and Alexa Hayes as they've combined for 98 blocks. Alvin is in the top-10 in the MAC for blocks per set.  
 
Jordyn Tynsky leads the dig efforts for the Huskies with 222 this season, an average of 3.47 per set. Tynsky also lands in the top-10 in the MAC.
 
Milestone on the Horizon 
Sophomore Ella Strausberger is 36 assists away from eclipsing the 1,000 career mark for total assists in her career. Strausberger, who has played in 70 sets for NIU this season, is averaging 5.16 assists per set.
 
Last Time on the Court
Three members of the Huskies volleyball team recorded double-doubles in a five-set thriller against Toledo. The Huskies saw three sets feature extra points as they fell at home. Grevengoed, McCartney, and Kylie Schulze all recorded double-doubles in the loss. McCartney matched her career-best 20 kills and set a new career best in digs, while Schulze had a new career best in digs and assists in the match.
 

Kent State Golden Flashes (8-12, 3-6 MAC) 
Kent State begins the second half of the Mid-American Conference volleyball schedule with home matches at the M.A.C. Center against Central Michigan on Thursday and Friday. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. both nights.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 23 | 6 p.m. | Kent State vs. Central Michigan
Friday, October 24 | 6 p.m. | Kent State vs. Central Michigan

PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
Kent State (8-12, 3-6 MAC) returns home after splitting a pair on the road with Miami last week. After a tough 3-2 loss on Thursday, the Golden Flashes posted a sweep on Friday.

Senior Mackenzie McGuire has been among the conference's best offensive players and ranks second in kills per set (4.00) and third in points per set (4.49). McGuire is No. 39 nationally with 292 total kills. She has recorded at least 10 kills in 17 of 20 matches.

A trio of newcomers have made immediate impacts to Kent State's attack, as junior Mercedez Brown (132), freshman Macie Moreland (135) and redshirt sophomore Adalynn Ginley (103) are the next three kills leaders. Ginley ranks sixth in the MAC in both hitting percentage (.302) and blocks per set (1.12).
Junior Christina Vigil ranks fifth in the MAC at 9.34 assists per set and is No. 43 in the nation with 682 total assists. She also leads the team at 2.70 digs per set.

MCGUIRE MAKING HER MARK
The only four-year member of the program, outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire officially entered the Kent State record book on Sept. 6 against Morgan State as the 17th member of the 1,000 kills club. She also tallied the 500th dig of her career during the match. McGuire claimed the No. 7 spot on the Flashes' career list on Nov. 10 at Eastern Michigan, passing Rebecca Yarish (1988-91), and enters the weekend with 1,207 kills. The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native has been one of the most productive attackers in program history in terms of kills per set. McGuire's average of 3.47 is the second-highest all-time.

BLOCK PARTY
With an average of 2.19 blocks per set, Kent State is having its most successful blocking season since 2021. Middle blocker Adalynn Ginley has made an immediate impact this fall after arriving to campus for the spring semester after transferring from Marshall. Ginley ranks sixth in the MAC with 1.12 blocks per set, which is the eighth highest average in Flashes history.

The block has picked up during conference play, as Kent State is averaging 2.58 per set against MAC competition while limiting opposing attackers to a .170 hitting percentage. The Flashes have totaled double-digit blocks five times over the past seven matches, including a season-best 14 at Eastern Michigan on Nov. 10. Middle blocker Nadia Miller leads the way with 1.29 blocks per set in league play, with Ginley (1.23 bps) and setter Christina Vigil (1.03 bps) close behind.

Buffalo Bulls (6-12, 3-6 MAC)
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (6-12, 3-6 MAC) will hit the road for six of the next seven matches starting this week in Ypsilanti, Mich. The Bulls will face the Eastern Michigan Eagles (10-12, 2-7 MAC) for a pair of matches on Thursday and Friday. Both matches will begin at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Bulls dropped both of their matches to the two-time defending MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos last weekend. In Friday night's loss, Buffalo had three players record double-doubles. Maddie Mitchell recorded her team leading seventh double-double on the season with 41 assists and 17 digs. Both Emerson Matthews (17 kills, 18 digs) and Manoela Forlin (13 kills, 22 digs) added to the cause. Forlin's 22 digs marked a career high.

Tehya Shaw had a career-high 10 kills against the Broncos on Friday.

ABOUT THE BULLS
• Last year against Eastern Michigan, Manoela Forlin totaled 20 kills, 5 aces, 10 digs and 25.5 points.
• Junior Manoela Forlin has 10+ kills in 12 of the 18 matches this season.
• In just conference play, Emerson Matthews is top-five in the MAC in aces per set (0.39), total aces (13), total kills (122), kills per set (3.70), total points (146.0) and points per set (4.42).
• Sophomore middle blocker Ava Kanj has recorded at least two blocks over the last five matches for a total of 19.
• Preseason All-MAC honoree Manoela Forlin and freshman Emerson Matthews have been the Bulls' one-two punch on the offensive attack. The duo has combined for 423 kills, which is 54.5% of the Bulls' total kills on the season. This is the highest rate in the MAC as Ball State's Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort make up 54.2% of the Cardinals' kills is just behind for second.
• Maddie Mitchell has seven double-doubles on the season. Mitchell has recorded double-doubles in three of the last six matches against Ohio (10/4), Akron (10/7) and Central Michigan (10/10).
• The Bulls are 16-5 in sets where they reach 15 first, but are 6-39 when the opposition gets to 15 first.


Eastern Michigan Eagles (10-12, 2-7 MAC)
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will host the University at Buffalo for two matches Thursday-Friday, Oct. 23-24. Both games will begin at 6 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.

RECENT CAREER-HIGHS
Ava Siefke landed 20 kills off a .238 hitting percentage, the best in her career when posting over 60 attacks as she did so off 63 attacks at Ohio, Oct. 16. Hatteras Welker landed a career-best 14 kills off a .400 hitting percentage, the best in her career when posting 25+ attacks at Ohio, Oct. 17.

MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN
Eastern landed 12 aces in the win over UMKC, Aug. 30, marking the most in the Foeman era (2023-present) and the most in a single game since it recorded 15 against Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2006. The total stands fourth in the program's all-time single-game leaderboards.

HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS 
Eastern ranks 43rd in the country in attacks per set (36.46). By volume, it ranks ninth in the county in total attacks (3,063), 12th in the nation in team digs (1,291), 21st in team kills (1,037), 24th in team assists (955), 26th in team total blocks (189.0), and 33rd in team service aces (135). Eastern ranks first in the MAC in three team single-game categories, and inside the top four in 10 total. In the national standings, Ava Siefke ranks seventh with 894 total attacks, 19th in total points (354.5), and 30th in total kills (299). Hatteras Welker slots eighth in total blocks (102). Ashlynn Belcher ranks 26th with 709 total assists, and Surabhi Srinivasan slots 50th with 323 total digs. In the national standings by volume, Welker's 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fifth, while Belcher's 41 dimes in a three-set match are the ninth most. Grasson's five aces tie for fifth in three-set matches.

MILESTONES
Ashlynn Belcher is 192 assists away from 2,000 in her career, while Ella Voorhees sits 63 digs from 500, and 231 assists from 1,000. Ava Siefke is 27 aces away from the century mark. Abby Stanford reached 500 kills with her four at IU Indy, Sept. 18, as she totals 511 in her collegiate career. Surabhi Srinivasan reached the 500 digs mark with 24 against Kent State, Oct. 10.

UP NEXT
Eastern will complete the second half of a home-and-home series against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. Admission is free at the George Gervin Game Above Center, and fans can stream the match live on ESPN+.


Akron Zips (9-11, 2-7 MAC)
AKRON, Ohio - Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to battle Northern Illinois for a pair of conference games on October 24 and 25.

How To Follow The Action
Friday: Stats | Video
Saturday: Stats | Video

Zips At A Glance
Akron comes into the series with Northern Illinois holding a 9-11 overall record and a 2-7 record in the MAC. The Zips recently went 0-2 the past week against Central Michigan.
Delaney Gash led the Zips the past week with 15 kills while Lyndi Wolf (14) and Gabby Brissett (13) were close behind. Martina Villani led the way in assists (41) while Masa Prasevic came close to recording her first collegiate double-double with a 12 assists and seven dig performance against CMU on October 18. Vanessa Del Real led the way in digs (23) while Chidera Ozoh led the Zips in blocks (6).
Gash leads the Zips so far this season in kills (288) and points (312). Villani is the leader in assists (767) while Vanessa Del Real leads the Blue and Gold in aces (35) and digs (285). Ozoh serves as the leader in blocks (84).

Leaders In The MAC
Akron ranks in the top-five in the MAC in total points (4th - 1353), points per set (2nd - 16.91), hitting % (4th - .213), total assists (3rd - 983), assists per set (2nd - 12.29), total kills (2nd - 1064), kills per set (2nd - 13.30) and fewest opp assists (5th - 919). Individually, the Zips see Lyndi Wolf rank 7th in hitting percentage (.295). Delaney Gash ranks 4th in total kills (288), 3rd in kills per set (3.79), 4th in total points (312) and 5th in points per set (4.11). Maureen Mathews is 6th in total kills (231) and 9th in kills per set (3.16). Martina Villani ranks 3rd in total assists (767) and 2nd in assists per set (9.59). Vanessa Del Real ranks 1st in total aces (35), 2nd in aces per set (.47), 6th in total digs (285) and 6th in digs per set (3.80).Chidera Ozoh ranks 5th in total blocks (84) and 8th in blocks per set (1.05).

Among The Best In The NCAA
The Zips rank 70th in the NCAA in assists per set (12.29), 73rd in kills per set (13.30), 22nd in total assists (983), 19th in total kills (1,064) and 66th in total aces (126). Individually, Vanessa Del Real ranks 35th in aces per set (.47) and 19th in total aces (35). Martina Villani ranks 58th in assists per set (9.59) and 9th in total assists (767). Delaney Gash ranks 95th in kills per set (3.79), 73rd in total points (312) and 42nd in total kills (288). Chidera Ozoh ranks 71st in total blocks (84).

What's Next?
Akron travels to Buffalo on Tuesday, October 28, before returning to James A. Rhodes Arena to battle Eastern Michigan on October 31 and November 1.