Valparaiso University

Despite a standout performance on the attack Saturday morning from Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall), the Valpo volleyball team closed its weekend action by falling 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24) at Akron.
 
How It Happened

• Akron took the lead for good in the opening set at 12-11. The Beacons scored three straight points later on to pull within 19-17, but the hosts responded with three straight of their own on their way to winning the opener.
• Valpo jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second frame, but the lead was quickly erased by the Zips at 5-5. Much like the first set, Akron took the lead for good at 12-11. The Beacons cut the deficit to one point twice later in the set, forcing an Akron timeout at 21-20 before the Zips scored four of the set's final five points to take the 2-0 lead in the match.
• The Beacons opened the third set with a big 9-1 run and still held a healthy lead at 19-12 before Akron went on an 8-1 run to tie the frame at 20-20. A kill by Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and a block from Maddie Steele (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and Mia McCall (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) restored a two-point lead, and Valpo eventually won the set on its first opportunity thanks to a block by Steele and Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston).
• Valpo used a 5-0 run midway through the fourth set to erase a 10-6 Akron advantage, and eventually extended its lead to 17-13 in its quest to force a fifth set. The Zips scored eight of the next 11 points, however, to regain the lead.
• Kills from Maggie Uhwat (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond Burton Community [Central Michigan]) and Steele returned the lead briefly to the Beacons, but Akron came back with back-to-back points of its own to regain the lead at 23-22. A Helming kill made it a race to two, and the junior saved one match point with another kill before the Zips put together consecutive points to close out the match.

 
Inside the Match

• Gove reached 20 kills for the third time this season, matching her career high of 22 that she set for the first time last weekend against Oakland. The junior also hit at a .422 clip, a career best as well.
• Just 16 hours removed from one of the most prolific attacking matches in program history, Helming came back with 18 more kills on Saturday.
• Olivia Wagner (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) tied for match-high honors with 38 assists.
• Rylee Bumgardner (Danville, Ind./Danville) soared past her previous season high, leading all players with 29 digs. The freshman also had 26 serve receptions without committing an error.
• Steele paced the Beacons with five blocks.
• Valpo finished the match with 60 kills on .238 hitting, but while the Zips only had two more kills, their 62 kills came with just 14 attack errors, good for a .300 hitting percentage.

 
Next Up
Valpo (5-4) heads to the WNY Invitational next weekend, where it will take on Le Moyne, Niagara and Canisius.