Oct. 27, 2006

Final Stats

Kalamazoo, MI - Toledo (6-18, 3-8 MAC) suffered a 3-0 (30-24, 30-24, 30-28) setback tonight at the hands of Western Michigan (14-11, 4-7 MAC) in front of 658 fans at University Arena. The Rockets have now lost all 19 matches they have played in Kalamazoo.

Junior Emi Holsclaw, who saw action at outside hitter instead of her usual setter position, led UT with a career-high 13 kills and a .419 attack percentage. Sophomore OH Shannon Strachan added nine kills to go along with a .350 hitting mark. Freshman S Mallory Ladd collected 35 assists, while senior Lora Sarich contributed a team-high 16 digs.

Freshman Michelle Moore led the Broncos with a match-high 14 kills and a .367 hitting percentage, with sophomore Ashley Vogl contributing 11 kills, six blocks and a .360 hitting percentage Freshman Caitlin Strimel also added a match-high 21 digs.

In game one, the two teams remained neck-and-neck during the first half of the game. The Broncos and Rockets battled to 10 ties, with the final time being 18-18. Despite the ties, Toledo never led in the game. A Moore kill, one of her four in the first game, would give the Broncos the lead for good. WMU would go on a 9-2 run to increase their lead to 27-20 before back-to-back kills by Toledo reduced the lead to five, but the Broncos were able to close it out on a kill by freshman Tara Lowell.

Game two remained close early on with the score tied at 10. A Toledo ball handling error along with kills by Babcock and Moore sent the Broncos on a 9-2 run. The Broncos built a 23-13 lead and held off a late Rockets' rally to take game two, 30-24.

Toledo built an early five-point lead, 8-3, but Western Michigan went on a 12-0 run with Eberling behind the service line to take a 16-8 lead. The Rockets mounted a slow and steady comeback and were able to tie the game at 27. A kill put the Broncos up by one, but the Rockets responded with a kill by Emi Holsclaw to tie the game at 28. Back-to-back Bronco kills put the Rockets away for good, 30-28.

UT will be back in action tomorrow night when it travels to DeKalb, IL to face MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois.

Holsclaw led the Rockets with 13 kills and a .419 hitting percentage. Mallory Ladd contributed 35 assists and Lora Sarich led Toledo with 16 digs.

Western Michigan continues its homestretch run with a match against Ball State, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at University Arena.