THURSDAY AND FRIDAY'S MATCHES: The Miami University volleyball team takes flight for its first road matches of the season at Akron. The RedHawks and Zips square-off on Thursday, Jan. 28 and Friday, Jan. 29. Start times for both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
ABOUT AKRON: The Zips are coming off a pair of losses at Ball State to open the season. Shelby Fulmer paces the Zips with 2.71 kps, while Megan Kelly averages 1.00 bps. Emily Weigand leads the team in assists (5.86 aps), and Taylor Sharrits averages a team-leading 5.71 dps.
THE SERIES WITH THE ZIPS: Thursday marks the 63rd meeting between Miami and Akron with the RedHawks holding a 47-15 lead in the all-time series. When playing in Akron, Miami is 19-9 against the Zips. The RedHawks won the last meeting between the teams, a 3-1 win on Nov. 8, 2019 in Akron. Miami has won seven straight in James A. Rhodes Arena with its last loss there dating back to Sept. 29, 2012 in five sets. The Zips' last win in the series was in Oxford, 3-0, on Oct. 5, 2019.
TELEVISION: Thursday and Friday's matches will be streamed live on ESPN3.
ECLIPSING 750 CAREER WINS: With a 3-0 win versus Buffalo on Jan. 22, Miami head coach
Carolyn Condit posted her 750th career win. Condit owns a 751-557 career record in her 41st season as a head coach. Condit's 751 total victories are tied for eighth among active NCAA Division I coaches, and tied for 24th all-time. Owning more victories than any coach in the history of the Miami Athletic Department, Condit holds a 652-479 record in her 37th season in charge of the Red and White. Condit is the only volleyball coach in the history of the Mid-American Conference to win over 300 league matches, holding a conference mark of 357-210.
HARPER NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MAC EAST DIVISION TEAM: Junior outside hitter
Gaby Harper was one of six selected to the All-MAC East Division Preseason Team. Harper earned all-conference honors in her first two years with the RedHawks, including First-Team All-MAC honors as well as MAC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2018. Harper averaged 2.65 kills per set, 3.17 digs per set and 0.52 blocks per set as a sophomore a season ago.
ODDS 'N ENDS:
Miami got off to a strong start in serving. Sophomore
Allyson Severance notched a career-high four service aces against Buffalo on Jan. 23 and leads the MAC in service aces (0.67 per set). Senior
Sarah Wojick ranks seven in the category (0.40). As a team, Miami leads the MAC in service aces, averaging 1.67 per set.
Miami also got off to a solid start in hitting percentage, ranking second in the MAC at .297 over two matches. The RedHawks hit an impressive .341 against the Bulls in the season opener. Senior
Sarah Wojick ranks fourth among MAC leaders (.471), while junior
Sophie Riemersma ranks ninth (.417).
UP NEXT: The RedHawks continues their road stretch when they travel to Bowling Green for matches at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. Miami returns home to host Toledo, Thursday, Feb. 11 and Friday, Feb. 12. Both match times are scheduled for 7 p.m.
