TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo volleyball team will open its 2015 campaign this weekend by hosting the Rocket Invitational. The Rockets will face Bradley at 10:00 a.m. and Green Bay at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 and Youngstown State at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. Portland will also take part in the Rocket Invitational but will not face UT in the five-team tournament.
 
"This is a great tournament to start off with in order to gauge where we're at," said Toledo head coach Greg Smith. "All five teams are coming in without really playing anyone yet so this tournament will be big for everybody—especially for us and our young team. At the same time, we are coming off the Blue-Gold scrimmage and are trying to prove how much we can progress in a week."
 
Toledo returns two seniors, two juniors, and six sophomores. Sophomore MB Rachel Vidourek is one of four returning starters for the Rockets. She ranked second on the team in 2014 with 2.29 kps, 0.79 bps and a .250 attack percentage. Other returning starters for UT are senior S Alex Hines, sophomore OH Saige Thomas and junior RSH Mary O'Connor. Toledo is also returning three experienced back-row performers in senior Maddie Strall (1.65 dps), junior Maggie Johnston (2.41 dps) and sophomore Lauren Bakaitis (3.97 dps) as well as sophomore OH Annie Beasley (1.61 kps in nine starts).
 
Toledo will welcome eight freshman to the 2015 squad, including Lynnea Clay (Ada, OH), Machayla Leonard (Normal, IL), Maurissa Leonard (Oregon, OH), Sarah Ross (Granger, IN), Haley Sendelbach (Tiffin, OH), Andrea Stephenson (Caledonia, MI), Carly Townsend (Germantown, WI) and Gracey Tuifua (South Jordan, UT).
 
The Rockets open the tournament against Bradley in the first contest between the two teams since 2007. Bradley went 2-31 in the 2014 season; the Braves are returning five starters and welcoming seven freshmen to its roster.
 
Youngstown enters 2015 coming off its best season in 15 years after posting a 17-14 record in 2014. Horizon League Setter of the Year Val Jeffery returns for her junior year and will be joined by four experienced seniors.
 
After not graduating any seniors, Green Bay will be returning nine members of their squad to the roster for its 2015 campaign. They finished their 2014 season with a record of 5-21.
 
Portland will return nine letterwinners and six starters from their 2014 team and will add five newcomers. They finished 7-23 on the season last year.
 
Rocket Invitational Tournament Schedule
All matches will be played in University of Toledo's Savage Arena.
 
Friday, Aug. 28
Bradley at Toledo, 10:00 a.m.
Green Bay vs. Portland, Noon
Bradley vs. Youngstown State, 5:00 p.m.
Green Bay at Toledo, 7:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, Aug. 29
Portland vs. Youngstown State, Noon
Bradley vs. Green Bay, 2:30 p.m.
Youngstown State at Toledo, 5:00 p.m.

UT Receives AVCA Team Academic Award
Toledo was awarded the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2014-15 school year. It marked the 15th straight season the Rockets have received the honor and the 35th straight semester the program has earned at least a 3.0 GPA.
 
Blue-Gold Match Recap
Sophomore outside hitter Saige Thomas tallied 12 kills and a .321 attack percentage to lead the Blue to a 2-1 (28-26, 20-25, 16-14) triumph over the Gold on Saturday evening ­in Savage Arena.

Junior outside hitter  Mary O'Connor contributed nine kills and a team-best .350 hitting mark for the Blue, while freshman middle blocker Lynnea Clay produced a match-high seven blocks (three solo, four block assists) and five terminations. Sophomore Lauren Bakaitis and freshman Maurissa Leonard each tallied a team-high nine digs.

Freshman outside hitter Haley Sendelbach topped the Gold with a match-best 13 kills and .308 attack mark with sophomore outside hitter Annie Beasley collecting five point-producing attacks. Sophomore middle blocker Rachel Vidourek garnered a team-high five blocks, while senior Maddie Strall and junior Maggie Johnston each notched a match-best 11 digs.

Senior setter Alex Hines dished out 23 assists and posted a .600 ATK% (3-0-5) for the Blue, while freshman Carly Townsend quarterbacked the Gold with 25 assists and a .333 ATK% (4-2-6).
 
2015 Newcomers
The Rockets welcome eight freshmen – MB Lynnea Clay, RSH/OH Machayla Leonard, L/DS Maurissa Leonard, DS/OH Sarah Ross, OH/MB Haley Sendelbach, L/DS Andrea Stephenson, S/RSH Carly Townsend and OH/MB Gracey Tuifua.
 
Toledo vs. Weekend Opponents
This will be the first meeting between Bradley and Toledo since 2007 with the Braves leading the all-time series, 3-1...UT last faced Youngstown State in 2013 with the Rockets winning 3-2 to take a 15-2 lead in the all-time series...Toledo is undefeated in four previous meetings vs. Green Bay, including a 3-0 sweep in 2013.
 
Returning Rockets
The Rockets return senior S Alex Hines, senior DS/OH Maddie Strall, junior L/DS Maggie Johnston and junior RSH Mary O'Connor. Toledo also welcomes back six sophomores: DS/L Lauren Bakaitis, OH Annie Beasley, DS/S Brianna Foster, S Lindsay Smith, OH Saige Thomas and MB Rachel Vidourek.
 
A Look Ahead
 The Rockets will be on the road for the next two weekends for two tournaments - the DePaul Invitational and Illinois State's Redbird Classic. Toledo will visit Valparaiso on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 8:00 p.m. before hosting the annual Blue/Gold Invitational in Savage Arena from Friday-Saturday, Sept. 18-19.