TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team opened Mid-American Conference play on a high note on Thursday, defeating Eastern Michigan in five sets in Savage Arena.

The Rockets came out firing to begin the match, winning the first set by a convincing 25-13 margin. EMU responded by winning the next two sets, 25-23 and 25-20, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Toledo captured the fourth set, 25-20, to force a decisive fifth frame, which it went on to win 15-9 to snap a five-match losing skid.

"That was a gritty win tonight," head coach Jason Oliver said. "I am proud of the turnaround after getting pushed by a scrappy Eastern Michigan team. Eastern was well-coached and they played free, but we found good moments and great play in stretches. Savage was rocking tonight and I loved the energy that pushed us to the level we needed to win. We're looking forward to making adjustments and battling again tomorrow."

Senior Taylor Alt led Toledo offensively with 21 kills, her third match with at least 20 kills this season. She also added 12 digs, one of five Rockets with double-digit digs, to attain her sixth double-double of the year. Fifth-year senior Ryann Jaqua tallied a match-high 28 digs, while freshman Emily Honzelka contributed eight kills and five blocks to help the cause. Senior Jada Bouyer reached double-digit terminations with 10.

Freshman Macy Hatkevich led the Rockets with 31 assists and senior Payton Morman added 14 helpers, and both setters were credited with 10 digs apiece.

Toledo and Eastern Michigan will battle again on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.

1^st Set (25-13, Toledo)
The Rockets dominated the first set, hitting .353 en route to a 25-13 win. Toledo led by just two, 14-12, near the midway point of the set before hitting the gas and not looking back. From that point on, UT scored 11 of the next 12 points and clinched the set with three straight kills from Rhyenne Filisi, Alt, and Honzelka to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Six of Alt's 21 kills came in the first set.

2^nd Set (25-23, Eastern Michigan)
Toledo led 13-11 before Eastern Michigan used a 6-1 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Rockets were able to fight back and tie the score at 20-20, then 21-21, but weren't able to grab the lead again for the remainder of the set. With the score at 24-23, the Eagles' Callie Minshew provided the clinching termination to end the set and tie the match at 1-1.

3^rd Set (25-20, Eastern Michigan)
Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Rockets were able to come back and tie the score at 11-11. A 9-2 EMU run all but put the third set out of reach, however, putting Toledo in a 21-13 hole. A late 4-0 spurt brought the Rockets to within three, 22-19, but Eastern Michigan closed things out to go up 2-1 in the match.

4^th Set (25-20, Toledo)
Things looked bleak to start, as Eastern Michigan scored the first four points of the set on three kills and a block. Undeterred, the Rockets quickly went up 8-7 and began a back-and-forth affair with the Eagles. With the score tied at 17-17, Toledo grabbed control of the set by scoring five straight points to take a 22-17 lead. UT would go on to win, 25-20, to force a fifth set.

5^th Set (15-9, Toledo)
Both teams held the lead for portions of the fifth set, but with the score tied at 7-7, Toledo went on a 5-0 run to make it 12-7 and take a commanding lead. An Eastern Michigan service error handed the Rockets the set and the match, giving them their first MAC win of the year.