Toledo Takes Down Kent State in Must-Win Match

Saturday, November 16

Kent, Ohio

4:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

17-13,10-8MAC

Kent State

2-26,1-17MAC

Toledo

Kent St.

Taylor Alt led the Toledo offense with 16 kills in Saturday's 3-1 win over Kent State.

11/16/2024 6:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Rockets can advance to MAC Tournament with an Ohio loss at Bowling Green tonight

KENT, Ohio – Outside hitter Taylor Alt fired off 16 kills in a 3-1 win (25-10, 16-25, 25-19, 25-12) over Kent State in a must-win for the Rockets on Saturday evening in Kent, Ohio. Freshman opposite/right side hitter Olivia Heitkamp tallied 12 kills of her own, just one termination shy of tying her career-best, and four blocks.

Toledo (17-13, 10-8 MAC) remains in seventh place in the Mid-American Conference standings, one spot away from the conference tournament. The Rockets need sixth-place Ohio (10-7) to lose to Bowling Green in a game played later tonight. Toledo and Ohio split their two matches this season. An Ohio loss would advance Toledo to the MAC Tourney thanks to the Rockets holding the tie-breaker in total games won in head-to-head competition (5-4).

Redshirt freshman middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn totaled nine kills while junior outside hitter Izzy Granger added eight terminations of her own. Anna Alford and Pertzborn both recorded a team-high five blocks.

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich had 42 assists and 13 digs, marking her 10^th double-double of the season. Hatkevich also poured in a season-best six kills and one block. Freshman libero Grace Freiberger totaled 29 digs and a career-best four service aces on Saturday while sophomore outside hitter Caylee Sharkey added 14 digs.

"It was a great night for our Rockets on the last day of the regular season," said Head Coach Jason Oliver. "I am happy with the fight and commitment to our style of play. I am just really proud of the team and their fight this weekend."

Kent State (2-26, 1-17 MAC) was led by Mackenzie McGuire with 10 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-10 Toledo)

Toledo took a 6-1 lead behind two kills from Taylor Alt, a solo block from Anna Alford and a service ace from Grace Freiberger.
Back-to-back kills from Izzy Granger helped put the Rockets ahead, 13-4.
Olivia Heitkamp and Sierra Pertzborn combined for a block to extend the lead, 20-5.
Caylee Sharkey put the Rockets at set point with a kill and a service error from Kent State gave Toledo the set win.
The Rockets combined for 11 kills on a .526 clip and six total blocks during the first set.

SET TWO (25-16 Kent State)

Kent State took an early 8-3 lead off six kills and a block.
Two blocks from the Golden Flashes extended their lead, 14-6.
A service ace from Avery Adamski and a duo of kills from Heitkamp got Toledo within six, 19-13.
Kent State pushed their advantage, 22-15, and took the set win on two Rocket errors.

SET THREE (25-19 Toledo)

After trading points in the beginning of the set, the Golden Flashes took a 12-9 lead.
A service ace from Sharkey and a kill from Pertzborn tied the match, 13-13.
Six straight points from the Rockets, thanks to kills from Granger and Heitkamp, a block from Pertzborn and Heitkamp and an ace from Adamski, put Toledo in front, 23-18.
Toledo closed out the set on a 7-1 run to take a two set advantage.

SET FOUR (25-19 Toledo)

Toledo jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead behind four terminations from Alt.
Back-to-back kills from Pertzborn extended Toledo's advantage by ten, 19-9.
Macy Hatkevich fired off two kills to give the Rockets match point.

UP NEXT
The Rockets will await their fate in the MAC Tournament, dependent on the results of the Ohio-Bowling Green contest.

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