University of Toledo
2-6,0-0MAC
Portland State
5-4,0-0Big Sky
Rockets Shot Down by Vikings in Four Sets
9/9/2023 1:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Toledo returns home on Tuesday to host Oakland
FARGO, N.D. – Facing a quick turnaround from Friday night's match vs. North Dakota State, the Toledo women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to Portland State on Saturday afternoon.
The Rockets hit .351 in the first set and won, 25-19, to take an early lead in the match. The Vikings went on to win the following three sets, however, to take the match.
Three Rockets reached double-digits in kills on Saturday, with senior Taylor Alt leading the charge. She tallied 12 kills and 16 digs for her fourth double-double in her last five matches. Senior Jada Bouyer and fifth-year senior Rhyenne Filisi collected 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Freshman Emily Honzelka had a productive day, posting seven kills and seven blocks, the most blocks by a Rocket in a match this season.
Freshman Macy Hatkevich and senior Payton Morman split time at setter, with Hatkevich recording 25 assists and Morman adding 17. Fifth-year senior Ryann Jaqua led all players with 17 digs. Jaqua was Toledo's all-tournament team selection, averaging 4.43 digs/set across both matches.
Toledo returns home on Tuesday, Sept. 12 to host Oakland before taking part in a home-and-home weekend series vs. Notre Dame. The Rockets will head to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish on Friday, Sept. 15 before both teams face off in Savage Arena on Sunday, Sept. 17.
1st Set (25-19, Toledo)
Toledo grabbed the lead in the first set thanks to its serve-receive game, tallying five early aces to go up 14-10. Portland State cut into the lead and made it 18-16, but UT scored five of the next six points to take a 23-17 lead. Jada Bouyer ended the first set with a kill to clinch a 25-19 win and put the Rockets up 1-0 in the match. Both teams attacked efficiently in the first set, as Toledo hit .351 and Portland State hit .303.
2nd Set (25-20, Portland State)
Toledo led 4-1 early, but Portland State scored seven of the following eight points to snag an 8-6 advantage. The Rockets came within a point, 15-14, but the Vikings would not give up any more ground. The final score settled at 25-20 to even the match at 1-1.
3rd Set (25-22, Portland State)
Both teams traded early leads in the third set, but with the score tied at 14-14, the Vikings rattled off three straight points to take the lead. The Rockets put together a rally of their own, and a kill from Honzelka capped a 4-0 run that put them ahead 21-20. Toledo's lead wouldn't last long though, as Portland State ended the third set on a 5-1 run to win, 25-22, and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
4th Set (25-22, Portland State)
Needing to win the set to keep the match going, Toledo took a 10-8 lead after a 3-0 run capped by an ace from Abby Erickson. The Rockets held a lead for much of the fourth set and led as late as 21-20. That would be the final time they would lead in the match though, as the Vikings scored the final five points to win, 25-21, and clinch the match.
