TOLEDO, OH - Toledo gave MAC West Division-leading Western Michigan all it could handle, but the Rockets still ended up on the short end of a 3-1 (30-25, 28-30, 30-24, 30-17) decision to the Broncos.  The defeat drops UT's record to 3-14 overall and 0-6 in the MAC, while WMU improves to 14-6 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

 

Junior OH Shannon Strachan led Toledo with 17 kills and a .389 attack percentage with freshman OH Margot Joniec (13) and freshman OH Katie Westerfeld (11) also reaching double figures in kills. Sophomore S Mallory Ladd collected 57 assists as UT posted a .214 hitting percentage. Junior libero Lori Ruth garnered a team-high 16 digs, while senior MB Brittany Alaburda added a team-high three blocks.

 

Western Michigan also featured three players in double figures in kills with Michelle Moore notching a match-high 23 kills and a .409 hitting mark. The Broncos posted a .257 ATK% with Jillian Mitchell distributing 55 assists. Caitlin Strimel led WMU in digs with 20, while Allyson Doyle collected a match-high seven blocks.

 

Toledo started the first game strong bolting to a 12-6 lead and held the lead until WMU scored six of the final seven points in the match to post a 30-25 win. The Rockets turned the tables on the Broncos in the second game after falling behind 20-11. UT went on a seven-point run to climb within 21-20, but WMU regained its composure and took a 27-24 lead. Toledo scored six of the next seven points to win the game 30-28.

 

The Rockets led for much of the third game until WMU tallied four straight points to take a 19-17 lead that it would not relinquish. The Broncos dominated the fourth game by scoring nine straight points to tak a 13-5 advantage.

 

Toledo returns to action on Friday, Oct. 12 when it travels to Kent, OH to face Kent State.