Toledo Extends MAC West Leader NIU to Five Sets Before Falling 3-2

Saturday, October 8

DeKalb, IL

7:00 p.m. (CT)

University of Toledo

10-8, 3-3MAC

Northern Illinois

14-4, 6-0MAC

TOLEDO

NIU

Toledo Extends MAC West Leader NIU to Five Sets Before Falling 3-2

10/8/2016 11:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DeKalb, IL – Mid-American Conference power Northern Illinois proved to be too much for Toledo (10-8, 3-3 MAC) to overcome on Saturday evening in a 3-2 (14-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21, 14-16) defeat to the Huskies (14-4, 6-0 MAC).

"We played a tough match and did a lot of great things tonight," said head coach Greg Smith. "I'm proud of the team for bouncing back from last night's loss. It was unfortunate that we came out on the other side tonight."

Junior OH Saige Thomas propelled the Rockets' attack with 18 kills (.301 ATK%), with sophomore OH Gracey Tuifua contributing 12 and junior MB Rachel Vidourek adding 10.

Toledo's balanced defensive effort was led by sophomore libero Maurissa Leonard (25 digs), senior DS Maggie Johnston (15 digs) and junior DS Lauren Bakaitis (11 digs).

The Rockets were unable to open the match with much momentum and dropped the first frame.

Toledo entered the second set aggressively, posting its highest hitting mark of the match (.345), while holding NIU to its lowest (.132).

The third frame was dominated by the hosts, as the Huskies hit a .382 ATK% with 14 kills and one attack error in 34 total attacks en rough to a decisive 10-point set win.

Set 4 was a battle that saw 13 tie scores. Neither team held more than a three-point lead, but after the two squads met at 18-18, UT scored seven of the last ten points to claim the set.

UT was unable to record the upset after extending the Huskies in the final frame. Northern Illinois remains undefeated in the league and claimed its ninth-straight win of the season.

The Rockets return home to host Ohio and Kent State on Homecoming Weekend.