Toledo Visits Buffalo and Akron this Weekend

Friday, October 8

Buffalo, N.Y.

6:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Buffalo

Toledo will carry a three-match winning streak into this weekend, with matches at Buffalo and Akron on the docket.

Photo by: Evan Procaccini

10/7/2021 3:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Match Notes (PDF)

TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's volleyball team (12-4, 3-1 MAC) hits the road for a pair of Mid-American Conference matches this weekend. The Rockets visit Buffalo on Friday before playing at Akron on Saturday.

Friday's match against the Bulls is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start on ESPN+, while Saturday's battle at Akron is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
Toledo won both of its matches against Kent State last weekend, sweeping the Golden Flashes on Friday and Saturday.

In Friday's contest, both teams hit under .100 on the night, but the Rockets were able to get 10 points from service aces and out-blocked the Golden Flashes 11-6. Sina Uluave led all players with 11 kills on the night, while classmate Olivia Vance added five kills and five blocks. Rhyenne Filisi and Elaine Redman had identical offensive stat lines, registering five kills and four blocks apiece. Redman also led all comers with 25 assists. Ryann Jaqua recorded a match-high 28 digs and three service aces.

Toledo held the Kent State offense in check for the second straight day on Saturday, forcing the Golden Flashes to hit just .059 after holding them to a sub-.000 attack percentage the night before. Rhyenne Filisi was a force on Saturday with a season-high seven blocks. Taylor Alt led all players with 11 kills and added 12 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Olivia Vance collected 10 kills and four blocks, while Rachel Pierce tallied nine kills while hitting .643. Elaine Redman contributed 37 assists and tied her season-high with four blocks.

Quick Hits

Ryann Jaqua was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, the second time in her career she has won the award. Her first weekly honor came last season after two matches at Northern Illinois.
Jaqua is averaging 5.00 digs/set this year, one of two MAC players averaging at least five digs per set (Aly Gurtiza, Central Michigan – 5.43 digs/set)
Toledo is 12-4 through the first 16 matches of the season, its best record through 16 matches since 2004 when the team also started 12-4. That season, the Rockets lost their next match to move to 12-5.
The Rockets are holding conference opponents to a paltry .107 attack percentage through the first two weekends of league play, the lowest in the MAC.
Rhyen Neal now has 1,191 career digs, cracking Toledo's all-time Top 10 last weekend. She now resides in ninth place and is 17 away from taking sole possession of eighth place (Patty Barrett, 1986-89).
Toledo boasts two of the top six in blocks in the MAC this year. Olivia Vance (1.02 blocks/set) and Rhyenne Filisi (1.00 blocks/set) rank fifth and sixth, respectively, and Vance is tied for second in the league with 15 solo blocks.

About Buffalo
Buffalo is 9-7 entering Friday's match and is 4-1 when playing at home this year. The Bulls are 2-2 in the MAC, winning twice against Miami before dropping both contests at Bowling Green last weekend. Milla Malik is one of the most productive offensive players in the conference, ranking fourth in kills (3.61/set) and scoring (4.02 points/set).

About Akron
Akron is 8-8 this season with a 2-2 mark in league play. The Zips won both matches at Miami last weekend and dropped both matches against Bowling Green the weekend prior. Teagan Ochaya (2.89 kills/set) and Alexis Adleta (2.86 kills/set) lead the way offensively for Akron, while Megan Kelly (0.91 blocks/set) and Taylor Sharrits (3.91 digs/set) are the team's leaders on defense.