TOLEDO, OH – Toledo (7-6, 0-1 MAC) dropped a 3-2 decision to West Division foe Eastern Michigan (6-8, 1-0 MAC) in its first Mid-American Conference match of the season.
 
Junior OH Saige Thomas paced the Toledo offense with 14 kills. Sophomore OH Gracey Tuifua contributed 10 terminations and freshman MB Zoe Birnbrich added eight. Sophomore S Carly Townsend quarterbacked the efforts at the net with 45 assists.
 
Senior DS Maggie Johnston and sophomore libero Maurissa Leonard each tallied a team-high 18 digs. Leonard also notched a team-high three service aces.
 
Toledo powered to a 25-17 victory in the opening set. Birnbrich, Thomas and Tuifua led the field with three kills each.
 
Momentum switched hands in Set 2. The Eagles never trailed and held the Rockets to a negative attack percentage.
 
Three straight Rocket points evened the score at 23 in Set 3 and forced an Eagle timeout. EMU answered back with two terminations of its own to end the set.
 
Toledo's attack dominated the fourth set, posting a .391 attack mark. UT carried its momentum into the final set and opened with four-straight points. It was not enough to outlast EMU as the Eagles won 15-12.
 
The Midnight Blue & Gold returns to Savage Arena tomorrow evening for a 5:00 p.m. match against Central Michigan.