DeKalb, IL – Four Rockets registered double-digit kills to propel Toledo to a 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 33-35, 15-11) first-round victory over Kent State in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Championships at Victor E. Court in DeKalb, IL.
 
Junior OH Saige Thomas tallied a match-high 20 terminations on the night. Thomas totaled 52 attack attempts which moves into eighth place all-time at Toledo with 1,138 total attacks this season. Sophomore OH Gracey Tuifua tied her career high of 17 kills, senior RSH Mary O'Connor followed with 13 and junior MB Rachel Vidourek added 12.
 
Sophomore S Carly Townsend quarterbacked the Rockets with a career-high 64 assists.
 
Senior DS Maggie Johnston led the team with a season-high 28 digs. Sophomore libero Maurissa Leonard trailed with 13, while both junior DS Lauren Bakaitis and junior DS Brianna Foster added 11.
 
After the score was evened at six in the first frame, the Golden Flashes went on a 9-3 run. The Rockets managed to bring the score within one (23-22) but Kent State locked in its victory with a kill by Lexi Mantas and a Toledo attack error. Thomas led both teams with five terminations in the frame.
 
Toledo jumped into a 4-1 lead in Set 2 but the Golden Flashes knotted the score with three-straight points. The score was evened at every other point until the Rockets pulled ahead, 13-11, with a service ace by Townsend and a kill by Beasley. UT never trailed the rest of the set and out-blocked KSU en route to a 25-19 victory.
 
The Rockets continued their momentum into the third set and soared to a 20-9 lead midway through the frame. KSU didn't go quietly, though, and went on an 11-4 run of its own to come within four points of UT. After a Toledo timeout, Townsend set Tuifua up for the set-winning kill to end the set, 25-20.
 
Set 4 was another back-and-forth battle that featured 16 tied scores and nine lead changes. Kent State came from behind to force the frame into extra points. After a 40-minute set, the Golden Flash stayed alive by fighting off nine match points en route to a 35-33 win.
 
UT outhit KSU, .265-.156, in the finale and claimed the match with a 15-11 victory.
 
Toledo moves onto the quarterfinals tomorrow where they will battle No. 3 Ohio at 7:30 p.m. CST
 

Head Coach Greg Smith Post Kent State Victory