TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's volleyball team fell to Central Michigan at home on Friday in four sets (17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-15).
After losing the first set, Toledo evened the match with a second-set victory. The Rockets lost a close third set and couldn't keep up with the Chippewas' offensive attack in the fourth.
Freshman Taylor Alt tallied a team-high 17 kills and added a pair of blocks. Senior Rhyen Neal and sophomore Ryann Jaqua had 12 and 11 digs, respectively, with freshman Payton Morman contributing 36 assists. Redshirt freshman Abby Erickson contributed a career-high five blocks.
Toledo and CMU will meet again on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN3.
1st Set (25-17, CMU)
Toledo led for much of the early portion of the set, using a 4-1 run to take a 7-4 lead over the Chippewas. With the Rockets holding a one-point lead, 12-11, CMU scored the next four points to make it 15-12. Toledo fought to within a point, 16-15, but would not get any closer in the first set. The Chippewas finished strong, scoring the final six points to win 25-17 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
2nd Set (25-22, Toledo)
The Rockets utilized a 6-1 run to take a 9-6 lead in the second set. Toledo looked to be in control until Central Michigan gave them a scare by pulling within a point late, 21-20. Erickson provided a clutch termination and sophomore Abby Ray's service ace put Toledo ahead 23-20. Alt provided the clinching point to tie the match at 1-1. Alt led all players with six kills in the second set.
3rd Set (25-22, CMU)
Central Michigan led 11-8 at one point, but the Rockets flexed their defensive muscles to knot the score at 11-11 with three straight blocks. Toledo couldn't turn those stuffs into a lead, however, as CMU continued to stay ahead of the Midnight Blue and Gold on the scoreboard. Sophomore Liz Beasley tallied a late kill and Neal served an ace to make it 24-22, but CMU's Savannah Thompson recorded the final point to put her team up 2-1 in the match.
4th Set (25-16, CMU)
With the score tied at 5-5, Central Michigan scored six of the next seven points to take an 11-6 lead over Toledo. Morman and sophomore Olivia Vance teamed up for a block to cut the deficit to four, but the Rockets couldn't get any closer in the fourth set. The Chippewas hit a match-high .379 in the final frame to win 25-16.
