Akron & Louisville Volleyball Players of the Week – Week 10

Akron and Ball State Dominate MAC Volleyball Weekly Honors

A strong showing from Akron and a historic achievement by Ball State highlight the latest Mid-American Conference volleyball awards, announced this week. Players from both teams were recognized for their outstanding performances, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the season.

Akron’s delaney Gash and Vanessa Del Real earned offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, while the Ball state duo of Lindsey Green and Reese Axness were named Setter Pair of the Week.

Gash Powers Akron Offense to Undefeated Week

Outside hitter delaney Gash spearheaded Akron’s offense, leading the Zips to a perfect 3-0 record. Gash tallied an remarkable 69 kills over the three matches, averaging 5.31 kills per set. She delivered a pair of 20+ kill performances, showcasing her dominance at the net.

In a five-set victory over Buffalo on Oct. 28, Gash recorded 24 kills and 12 digs, hitting at a .306 clip.She followed that with a career-high performance against Eastern Michigan university (EMU) on Oct. 31, notching 28 kills and another 12 digs in a five-set win.gash concluded the week with 17 kills against the Eagles, adding eight digs, two assists, and two aces while hitting.280.

Did you know? – Delaney Gash’s 28 kills against EMU on Oct. 31 marked a new career high for the Akron outside hitter, demonstrating her growing impact on the Zips’ offense.

Del Real Anchors Akron Defense with Career Performance

Libero Vanessa Del Real anchored the Zips’ defense, setting a new career-high in digs and contributing to the team’s undefeated week. Del Real amassed 70 digs across three matches, averaging 5.38 digs per set.

Her standout performance came against EMU on Oct. 31, where she recorded a remarkable 37 digs, along with four assists and one ace. Del Real continued her strong play in the series finale against the Eagles on Nov. 1, adding 22 digs, three assists, and one ace.

Pro tip: – Libero positioning is crucial for defensive success.A strong libero anticipates opponent attacks and quickly reacts to cover the court effectively.

Ball State Setters secure Championship Berth

Lindsey Green and Reese Axness of Ball State played a pivotal role in securing the Cardinals’ place in the 2025 MAC Volleyball Championship – the first team to do so. the setter pair guided the offense to a league-leadin.313 team attack percentage last week.

Their performance reached a peak in saturday’s sweep at Kent State, where the Cardinals achieved the ninth-best single-match attack percentage in programme history at.437. Green also reached a personal milestone, becoming the 17th player in Ball state history to surpass 1,000 career assists during Friday’s 3-1 victory over the Golden Flashes. Green averaged 6.80 assists,1.50 digs, and 0.30 kills per set, while also leading the team with eight service aces. axness contributed with averages of 4.90 assists, 1.10 digs, and 0.10 aces per set.

Reader question: – What factors do you think are most important for a accomplished setter duo like Green and Axness? Share your thoughts!

Why: This report details the weekly award winners in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) volleyball.
Who: Delaney Gash and Vanessa Del Real (Akron), and Lindsey Green and Reese Axness (Ball State) were the players recognized.
what: Gash and