TOLEDO, OH – Toledo came back from a 0-2 deficit to extend the match into five sets before falling to Buffalo, 3-2 (19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 11-15). With the loss, the Rockets drop to 15-11 on the season and 8-6 in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo improves to 4-23 overall and 3-11 in league action.
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UT had four Rockets notch double-digit kills for a second-straight contest. Junior OH
Saige Thomas recorded a team-high 13 terminations, junior MB Rachel Vidurek followed with 12 and both senior RSH
Mary O'Connor and freshman
Gracey Tuifua tallied 11. Vidourek topped the team with a .480 ATK % (12-0-25) and four rejections. Sophomore S
Carly Townsend supported the attack with 51 assists.
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Sophomore libero
Maurissa Leonard and senior DS
Maggie Johnston led the efforts in the backcourt with 13 digs apiece. They were assisted by junior DS
Lauren Bakaitis who tallied 11 and sophomore DS
Andrea Stephenson who added eight.
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Buffalo's red-hot attack outhit Toledo, .452-.314, in the opening frame. The Bulls continued their strong offensive efforts into Set 2 to extend their lead, 2-0.
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Toledo was able to stay alive in the third and fourth sets by holding the Bulls to a .050 and .037 hitting mark as a team.
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UT tried to rally for a victory in the finale but was limited to a .038 attack percentage, while Buffalo posted a .318 hitting mark of its own.
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Toledo will play its final two regular-season contests in Savage Arena beginning with a meeting on Friday, Nov. 11 against West Division leader Northern Illinois. The Rockets will then close out their regular season on Saturday, Nov. 12 vs. Western Michigan.
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