Recap courtesy of Akron's Athletic Communications Department

KENT, OH -- The University of Akron volleyball team opened Mid-American Conference play in impressive fashion Wednesday night, earning a 3-0 sweep over Kent State, 25-12, 25-13, 25-22, at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
 
The Zips improved to 6-6 overall and 1-0 in MAC play with the victory, while Kent State fell to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in conference action. Akron hit .302 as a team, finishing the match with 43 kills, 41 assists, 11 service aces and six team blocks.
  
GAME NOTES
• Akron sweeps MAC opener: The Zips opened conference play with a 3-0 victory over Kent State, winning 25-12, 25-13 and 25-22.
• Efficient attack: Akron hit .302 for the match, recording 43 kills and 14 attack errors on 96 attempts.
• Aprati leads the attack: Noelle Aprati delivered one of Akron's most efficient performances, recording nine kills without an attack error on 12 attempts for a .750 hitting percentage.
• Gash powers the offense: Delaney Gash led Akron with 11 kills while hitting .391, adding two assists, one service ace and one block assist.
• Wilson adds nine: Lauren Wilson contributed nine kills and hit .238 while adding 11 digs.
• Wolf at the net and service line: Lyndi Wolf recorded six kills, three service aces, one solo block and three block assists.
• Setting the offense: Payton Evans led Akron with 20 assists, while Masa Prascevic added nine assists. The Zips finished with 41 assists as a team.
• Del Real serves up four aces: Vanessa Del Real recorded four service aces and eight digs.
• Strong at the net: Akron finished with six team blocks, led by Wolf's four total blocks and Chidera Ozoh's three.
• Late-set response: After trailing 20-14 in the third set, Akron scored seven consecutive points to move in front 21-20 before closing out the sweep.
• Quick start: Akron hit .467 in the opening set and .391 in the second set before finishing the match with a .140 mark in the third.
• Three-set battle: The match featured three tie scores and one lead change, all coming in the third set.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
43 – Akron kills in the match.
.302 – Akron's team hitting percentage.
18 – Akron kills in the opening set.
14 – Akron kills in the third set.
11 – Kills by Delaney Gash, a team high.
9 – Kills by Noelle Aprati and Lauren Wilson.
.750 – Aprati's hitting percentage, with nine kills and no errors on 12 attacks.
20 – Assists by Payton Evans.
11 – Akron service aces in the match.
4 – Service aces by Vanessa Del Real, a match high.
6 – Akron's total team blocks.
577 – Attendance for Wednesday's MAC opener.
3-0 – Akron's final victory margin in its conference opener.
 
UP NEXT
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena of the MAC home opener on Friday, Set. 25 at 6 p.m. against the Toledo Rockets.