KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Toledo women's volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss in the semifinals of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament to No. 1-seed Western Michigan.

WMU won the first two sets by a 25-23 margin and then put the match away with a 25-17 final in the third set to advance to tomorrow's championship match. Toledo tested the MAC Regular Season Champion Broncos all match long, and locked itself in 23-23 stalemates in the first and second sets. The final two points went WMU's way each time, though, despite UT's best efforts.

The Rockets were left one win short of making it to the championship game for the first time in school history but can take solace in making the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2010.

"I am proud of the fight we showed tonight," head coach Jason Oliver said. "We just needed a couple of plays in the first two sets to go our way. My hat is off to Western Michigan, they are playing great volleyball. And to the senior Rockets, I am so proud of the legacy they are leaving. Our program is ready for the next step because of their work."

Fifth-year senior Ryann Jaqua ended her final season as a Rocket with 619 digs, which is tied for the most ever in a season with Maurissa Leonard (2018). Last weekend, Jaqua broke Leonard's school record for most career digs. Fellow fifth-year Rhyenne Filisi caps her career averaging 0.86 blocks/set, which is tied for fifth all-time in program history.

Senior Taylor Alt recorded a double-double vs. the Broncos, tallying 13 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Izzy Granger also had double-digit kills with 10. Freshman Macy Hatkevich recorded 33 assists while senior Jada Bouyer put up three blocks.

Alt turned in another great season, posting 478 terminations. That ranks fourth all-time in a season in school history, and she now has three of the six highest single-season kill totals in school history.

As a team, Toledo registered a .216 team attack percentage, which is tied with the 2022 team for the best in a season in program history. 

1^st (25-23, Western Michigan)
Taylor Alt came out swinging in the first set, recording the first kill of the game. Halfway through the set, Western Michigan went on a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the match at 13-10. Claire Eiden was a stud at the line, acing the Broncos in back-to-back serves to give UT the lead at 20-18. Tied at 23-23, WMU got the side-out and won the match with a serve that rolled off the tape onto UT's side.

2^nd (25-23, Western Michigan)
Just like the previous set, Alt came out with the first-point termination from the outside pin. Deadlocked at 13-13 after back-and-forth scoring, Alt delivered back-to-back kills to give UT a 15-13 advantage into the media timeout. The Broncos fought back to tie the match at 21-21 and 23-23 and won the match at 25-23 to take a 2-0 match lead. UT had a match-high 18 kills and hit .324 this frame, its best of the match.

3^rd (25-17, Western Michigan)
The home team had the momentum to start the third set, going up 8-4 before UT was forced to take a timeout and try to regroup. WMU's biggest lead was seven points but Toledo slowly chipped away at the deficit, getting as close as 17-13. The Broncos won the final three points of the match to end the match 25-17 and earn the sweep.