ATHENS, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team defeated Ohio, 3-1 (7-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-23), Saturday evening. After dropping the first set, the Rockets responded by winning the next three to grab the victory.

In the second set, Toledo (10-6, 3-2 MAC) recorded a .520 clip on 15 kills with only two errors on 25 attempts.

Izzy Granger paced the Rockets' offense, totaling 12 kills to go along with two digs and two blocks. Taylor Alt added eight kills and nine digs with a .583 hitting percentage, a new career best. Kayla Ozanich and Sierra Pertzborn each poured in six kills while Pertzborn tallied a team-high five blocks.

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich tallied 30 assists and 11 digs, her second-consecutive match with a double-double and her fifth of the season. Hatkevich also added a season-best five kills. Freshman libero Grace Freiberger led the team in digs with 13 while Caylee Sharkey owned a match-best three service aces.

"The poise and commitment to playing Rocket volleyball that this group showed today was next level," said Assistant Coach Jordan Armstrong. "They remained committed to being engaged with one another through their communication, execution and interactions with each other through the pressure and adversity that we faced."

Ohio (6-9, 2-2 MAC) was led by Kam Hunt with 17 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-7 Ohio)

• Ohio used an early 11-2 run to take the lead. The Bobcats extended their advantage to 19 points before kills from Caylee Sharkey and Kayla Ozanich cut the lead to 14.
• Ohio rattled off a 4-0 run to take the set victory.

SET TWO (25-16 Toledo)

• Toledo took a two-point lead off a kill from Izzy Granger, 4-2. A termination from Sierra Pertzborn kept the Rockets in front, 8-5.
• The Rockets fired off a 3-0 run behind kills from Macy Hatkevich and Olivia Heitkamp and a block from Ozanich and Granger to extend the lead, 12-7.
• An ace from Sharkey kept Toledo in front, 17-8, and a kill from Pertzborn pushed the lead to double digits, 22-12.
• Granger's fifth kill of the afternoon secured the set win and tied the match, 1-1.

SET THREE (25-17 Toledo)

• A solo block from Heitkamp put Toledo in front, 5-3.
• The Bobcats used a 4-1 run to get within one, 11-10. Toledo responded with a 3-0 run of their own to extend their advantage, 14-10.
• Ozanich's fifth kill of the afternoon put the Rockets in front, 20-13. A kill and service ace from Taylor Alt helped Toledo get to set point and Pertzborn took the set victory with a kill.

SET FOUR (25-23 Toledo)

• A kill from Alt and a block from Pertzborn and Heitkamp gave Toledo an early 5-1 lead. Ohio responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead, 8-5.
• A 6-1 surge by the Rockets, powered by kills from Alt and Hatkevich and a block from Pertzborn and Alt, put UT in front, 15-14.
• Ohio regained a slight lead, 20-18, but a 5-0 run from the Rockets, powered behind kills from Granger, secured the match win.

UP NEXT
Toledo returns to Savage Arena for a pair of matches. The Rockets will host Central Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 10 and Eastern Michigan on Friday, Oct. 11. Both matches are set for 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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