KENT, Ohio – Outside hitter
Taylor Alt tallied a team-high 13 kills as the Toledo women's volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-17, 25-22) in what was a must-win victory over Kent State in Kent, Ohio on Friday. Junior middle blocker
Anna Alford added 10 kills on a .600 clip, setting a new career best.
Toledo (16-13, 9-8 MAC) still stands in seventh place in the conference standings, one spot out of tournament contention. A win helps keep Toledo in the hunt for the sixth and final spot in the conference championship.
Freshman opposite/right side hitter
Olivia Heitkamp tallied eight kills while redshirt freshman
Sierra Pertzborn totaled seven kills and a team-best three blocks. Sophomore setter
Macy Hatkevich recorded 37 assists and 11 digs, marking her ninth double-double of the season. Hatkevich also poured in four kills and three service aces.
Freshman libero
Grace Freiberger had a team-high 19 digs to go along with three service aces while sophomore outside hitter
Caylee Sharkey had a career-best 17 digs of her own.
"We had a bunch of big-time performers tonight," said Head Coach
Jason Oliver. "
Anna Alford and
Macy Hatkevich played great and really soured on a total team effort. Time to recover and refocus for what will be a tough match tomorrow on Kent State senior night."
Kent State (2-25, 1-16 MAC) was led by Mackenzie McGuire with nine kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-23 Toledo)
- Kent State jumped out to an early 7-4 lead behind a block. Three consecutive kills from Izzy Granger and Taylor Alt tied the match, 9-9.
- A 4-0 run by Toledo, highlighted by a kill from Anna Alford and an ace from Macy Hatkevich, put the Rockets ahead, 13-11.
- The Golden Flashes responded with a 5-0 surge of their own to regain the lead, 16-13.
- A kill from Alford and solo block from Sierra Pertzborn got the Rockets within one, 18-17, but Kent State extended their advantage, 22-18.
- Terminations from Granger and Alt and a block from Emily Honzelka and Alt helped Toledo knot the match, 22-22.
- A kill from Alt put the Rockets at set point and a kill from Sierra Pertzborn secured the set win.
SET TWO (25-17 Toledo)
- Two kills from Alt and Alford helped create a 5-0 run to put the Rockets up early, 5-1.
- A termination from Olivia Heitkamp kept Toledo in front, 7-3. Kent State rattled off three consecutive points to get within two, 11-9, but a kill from Alt kept Toledo ahead, 12-9.
- Hatkevich's second ace of the night and a solo block from Alford extended Toledo's lead, 17-11.
- The Golden Flashes got within five, 20-15, but kills from Alt and Sharkey helped keep the Rockets in front.
- Back-to-back errors for Kent State helped give Toledo the set victory.
SET THREE (25-22 Toledo)
- Kills from Alt and Pertzborn and an ace from Freiberger gave Toledo the early advantage, 5-2.
- Six consecutive points from Kent State put the Golden Flashes in front, 14-13. A solo block from Alt and two aces from Freiberger gave Toledo the slight two-point lead, 16-14.
- A 5-0 run, highlighted by kills from Alford and Alt as well as an ace from Hatkevich, extended Toledo's lead, 21-17.
- Heitkamp's eight kill of the night put the Rockets at set point and Pertzborn put the set away with a termination of her own.
UP NEXT
The Rockets close out regular season play at Kent State on Saturday, Nov. 16. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+.
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