Rockets Suffer Loss to MAC West Leader NIU

Friday, November 11

Toledo, OH

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

15-12, 8-7MAC

Northern Illinois

22-5, 14-1,MAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Northern Illinois	25	25	25	3
TOLEDO	23	22	11	0

Sophomore Gracey Tuifua paced UT with nine terminations.

11/11/2016 10:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

TOLEDO, OH – Toledo put up a valiant effort in its match vs. West Division leader Northern Illinois but ended up on the short end of a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-11) setback to the Huskies. With the loss, the Rockets drop to 15-12 on the season and 8-7 in the Mid-American Conference. NIU remains atop of the MAC West with a 22-5 overall record and 14-1 mark in league play.

Sophomore OH Gracey Tuifua paced the Rockets' attack efforts with nine terminations. Junior OH Saige Thomas followed with six kills, while junior MB Rachel Vidourek, senior RSH Mary O'Connor and junior MB Annie Beasley each recorded five of their own.

Defensively, Thomas and Beasley topped the team with three rejections apiece and sophomore libero Maurissa Leonard led the backcourt with 21 digs.

Both teams opened up the match aggressively as the first frame saw 10 tie scores and five lead changes. After the score was evened at 22, Toledo recorded three errors to give the Huskies a 25-23 victory.

Gracey Tuifua posted an impressive seven kills in the second set but Northern Illinois managed to edge by the Rockets, 25-22, to extend its lead.

Toledo was unable to compete with the Huskies' efficiency in Set 3. NIU posted a .414 ATK% as a team, while holding the Rockets to a negative hitting mark.

The Midnight Blue & Gold will return to Savage Arena one last time this season when they host Western Michigan tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. The match will also serve as the Rockets' Senior Night for Maggie Johnston, Mary O'Connor and Lindsay Smith.