Rockets Defeat Chippewas on Thursday Night, 3-1

Thursday, October 10

Toledo, Ohio

6:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

11-7,4-2MAC

Central Michigan

13-5,4-2MAC

Central Mich.

Toledo

Freshman Olivia Heitkamp set a new career-best with 12 kills in Thursday's 3-1 win.

Photo by: Bree Bee

10/10/2024 8:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Four Rockets tally double-figure kills in win over Central Michigan

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team took down Central Michigan, 3-1 (33-31, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12), Thursday evening. The Rockets recorded a .329 hitting percentage, their second-best mark in Mid-American Conference play this season.

Toledo (11-7, 4-2 MAC) saw four players reach double figure kills. Taylor Alt led the way with 18 kills, six digs and three service aces. Alt tallied only one error on 36 total attacks for a .472 clip.

Freshman Olivia Heitkamp totaled 12 kills on a hitting percentage of .375, setting new career highs in both fields. Junior Izzy Granger added 11 kills and eight digs to go along with three blocks, while redshirt freshman Sierra Pertzborn had 10 kills on a .429 hitting percentage and a team-high six blocks.

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich set a new career high with 53 assists to go with nine digs. Freshman libero Grace Freiberger recorded a team-best 27 digs while Caylee Sharkey added 12 digs of her own.

"Our offense really showed up big tonight for us," said Head Coach Jason Oliver. "We knew that Central Michigan would show up and push us in every aspect of the match. I am happy we were able to handle that and score at a high level."

Central Michigan (13-5, 4-2 MAC) was led by Lauren Schrock with 15 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (33-31 Toledo)

Central Michigan jumped out to an early 10-3 lead.
Toledo got within five, 15-10, thanks to a solo block from Sierra Pertzborn.
A 7-1 run by the Rockets, powered behind kills from Olivia Heitkamp and an ace from Taylor Alt, tied the match, 17-17.
The Rockets took their first lead of the set, 23-22, off Alt's sixth kill of the night.
Both sides traded blows and saw eight combined set points before a kill from Izzy Granger secured the set win.

SET TWO (25-17 Toledo)

A service ace from Kayla Ozanich put Toledo in front, 5-2.
Back-and-forth ensued until the Rockets put together a 4-0 run to take a 12-9 lead.
The Rockets used an 8-1 surge, powered by kills from Alt, Heitkamp and Pertzborn, to jump ahead, 23-16.
A block from Macy Hatkevich and Ozanich grabbed the set victory for Toledo.

SET THREE (25-23 Central Michigan)

Toledo took an early 3-0 advantage and extended the lead, 8-2, off a block from Granger and Ozanich.
Central Michigan rattled off an 8-2 run to tie the frame, 11-11.
Both sides traded points, but a 5-0 run for the Chippewas put them in control, 18-16.
A Pertzborn kill helped knot the set at 21-all, but Central Michigan completed three terminations to take their first set win of the night.

SET FOUR (25-12 Toledo)

The Rockets jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with two kills from Alt.
A block from Granger and Pertzborn extended the lead to 9-3.
Central Michigan got within six, 12-6, but Toledo responded with two kills from Alt to push the lead to nine, 15-6.
An error from the Chippewas put Toledo in front by 12, 21-9. A kill from Pertzborn put the Rockets at match point and Olivia Heitkamp secured the victory.

UP NEXT
Toledo wraps up its weekend at Savage Arena on Friday, Oct. 11 as Eastern Michigan comes to visit. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+.

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