TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo (7-5) will open Mid-American Conference play in Savage Arena when it hosts West Division foes Eastern Michigan (5-8) and Central Michigan (6-6). The Rockets will battle the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. and then match up against the Chippewas on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 5:00 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
  The Midnight Blue & Gold is coming off of its first losing weekend of the season. Toledo opened last weekend's Diet Coke Invitational with a 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-9) comeback victory over Horizon League foe Green Bay. UT then finished out the tournament with 3-0 losses to No. 3 Minnesota (14-25, 22-25, 14-25) and North Dakota (23-25, 17-25, 23-25).

Toledo ranks among the league leaders in blocks, ranking second in overall matches with 2.28 bps.

The Rocket defense is led by sophomore libero Maurissa Leonard, who ranks third in the league and 33rd in the nation with 5.02 dps. The Oregon, OH native was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 for her standout performances in the UT backcourt.

Toledo's lone freshman, MB Zoe Birnbrich, has emerged as the team's defensive leader at the net. Birnbrich paces UT and ranks second in the MAC with 1.14 bps. Birnbrich earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 5 for her impact at the net. The Dublin, OH native also ranks second on the team with a .268 ATK%.

Junior OH Saige Thomas leads the team with 2.85 kps, followed closely by sophomore OH Gracey Tuifua (2.73) and junior MB Rachel Vidourek (2.44 kps). Vidourek paces the team with a .370 ATK% which ranks her fourth in the conference.

Sophomore S Carly Townsend is the quarterback for the Rockets and has averaged 10.85 aps. Townsend's assist mark ranks her second in the league and 29th in the nation. She also sits 33rd with 521 total assists
  Several Rocket have produced career bests over UT's non-conference slate, including the following:

• Lauren Bakaitis tallied five services aces vs. Saint Francis (9/9).
• Saige Thomas recorded 12 digs at Wright State (8/27).
• Rachel Vidourek posted an .818 ATK% (9-0-11) vs. Dayton (8/26) and nine digs vs. SIUE (8/27).
• Carly Townsend notched 61 assists vs. SIUE (8/27) and Saint Francis (9/9) and posted a .750 ATK% at Fort Wayne (9/9).
• Maurissa Leonard recorded five service aces vs. Penn (9/2).
• Gracey Tuifua tallied 17 kills vs. Saint Francis (9/9) and 47 total attack attempts vs. North Dakota (9/17).

  Eastern Michigan (5-8) travels to the Glass City after finishing 1-2 at the University of Michigan's tournament last weekend. Sophomore OH Jordan Smith paces the Eagles' offense with 2.73 kps, while junior MB Samantha Falco tops EMU at the net with 1.09 bps.
  Central Michigan (6-6) finished 1-2 at the Holiday Inn Orlando East/UCF Challenge last weekend. CMU currently ranks second in the MAC with a .231 ATK%. Junior OH Jordan Bueter has totaled 21 service aces for a league best .510 aps.
 

• Toledo trails its all-time series vs. the Eagles by a 67-13 margin, including a 3-2 setback at home on Nov. 14, 2015.
• Central Michigan holds a 45-20 advantage over Toledo following a 3-2 victory in Savage Arena on Nov. 13, 2015.

  Next on the Rockets' agenda is a trip to Muncie, IN on Thursday, Sept. 29 to battle Ball State at 7:00 p.m. Toledo will then visit the Zips for a 5:00 p.m. match on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Akron, OH.