CHICAGO – Fifth-year senior Taylor Alt tallied 12 kills and seven digs but it wasn't enough in a 3-0 loss to DePaul in the opening round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship on Thursday night in Chicago.

The Rockets finish the season with a 17-15 record.

Junior outside hitter Izzy Granger added nine kills and four digs. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn added five kills and totaled a team-high four blocks. Freshman right side hitter Olivia Heitkamp also added four blocks.

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich recorded 31 assists and 12 digs for her 12^th double-double of the season and 20^th of her career. The freshman libero chipped in eight digs and four assists.

"Postseason volleyball is filled with opportunities to reap the rewards from a whole year's worth of work," said interim head coach Jordan Armstrong. "All credit to DePaul for continuing their level of play into December. Our group was committed to playing Rocket Volleyball, and the immense level of pride that exists within that cannot be overstated.

As this group continues to evolve and develop, the success of this season paves the way for more banners to be raised within Savage Arena. For our graduating student-athletes, Taylor Alt and Ella Abraham, they along with their teammates will be able to know their efforts and accomplishments are forever a part of Toledo Volleyball history." 

DePaul (20-13) was led by Jill Pressly with 21 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-20 DePaul)

• Both teams traded points early on in the set, but a 3-0 run by the Rockets put Toledo ahead, 8-6.
• Four consecutive points from DePaul put the Blue Demons in front, 11-8. A kill from Kayla Ozanich got Toledo within one, 12-11.
• Back-to-back kills from Izzy Granger tied the match, 13-13, before DePaul fired off two kills for a two-point lead, 18-16.
• Sierra Pertzborn and Granger combined for a block to put an end to a 5-0 DePaul run. Caylee Sharkey fired off an ace to get the Rockets within four, 24-20, but DePaul took the set on a kill.

SET TWO (28-26 DePaul)

• After back-and-forth action, Macy Hatkevich and Pertzborn teamed up for a block to put Toledo ahead, 6-5.
• A 3-0 run, highlighted by a kill from Hatkevich and block from Pertzborn and Olivia Heitkamp, tied the match, 13-13.
• DePaul responded with a 3-0 run of their own to get in front, 16-13. Kills from Taylor Alt and Granger helped the Rockets tie the match, 18-18.
• A kill and service ace from Alt put Toledo within one, 22-21. With DePaul at set point, 24-21, Toledo fired off three-straight points to tie the match, 24-24.
• A service error and DePaul kill put DePaul ahead 2-0 in the match.

SET THREE (25-16 DePaul)

• Toledo took a quick 2-0 lead behind a kill from Alt and a block from Alt and Ozanich.
• The Rockets and the Blue Demons traded points, keeping within two points of each other throughout the middle of the set.
• DePaul jumped out to a five-point lead, 16-11.
• Consecutive aces from DePaul put the Blue Demons in front, 20-12. The Rockets got within seven, 22-15, behind kills from Granger and Pertzborn.
• A kill from DePaul secured the match victory for the Blue Demons.

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