Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography The Zips will look to bounce back when they head to Buffalo next Friday.

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron volleyball team (7-8, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) was defeated by No. 20 Ohio University, 30-14, 30-17, 30-17, Friday night at Rhodes Arena. The loss was just the Zips’ second setback in their last five matches.

Freshman Brionna Patterson (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) recorded 11 kills for UA, which was out-hit .326 to .049 for the match. It was the 11th time in 15 matches that Patterson has reached double-digits for kills. Freshman Kara Smith (Secor, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) added 20 assists and 10 digs while fellow freshman Megan Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and senior Kim Horn (North Canton, Ohio/Jackson) combined for 24 digs.

The nationally-ranked Bobcats (9-3, 1-0) had five players with double-digit kills and recorded six service aces. Ohio was led offensively by freshman Ellen Herman, who had 13 kills and senior Savanah Parra, who finished with 50 assists. Senior Michaele Blackburn had a match-high 20 digs.

Ohio jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first game and never looked back. The Bobcats out-hit the Zips .385 to .000 in the first frame. Patterson led the way with six kills and a .455 attack percentage and Rodriguez had eight digs to keep things closer in game two but Ohio used an 8-2 run halfway through the game to give them a 26-12 advantage en route to the victory.

The Bobcats jumped out to a big lead early once again in game three to close out the Zips.

Akron will continue its MAC schedule next week with a match at Buffalo on Friday before returning home to face Toledo next Saturday.