VESTAL, N.Y. - Toledo volleyball started off the season strong on Friday, earning wins over Bucknell, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23) and Binghamton, 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-23).

Senior Taylor Alt led the way for the Rockets (2-0, 0-0 MAC) against Bucknell on Friday afternoon, tallying 16 kills and 12 digs for her first double-double of the season and her 37th career double-double. Izzy Granger poured in 15 kills and seven digs. 

"This is what you want from the first match of the year," said Head Coach Jason Oliver after the victory over the Bison. "Our team played with energy and poise in big moments. The nerves got out and now we can focus on putting the best product out on the floor each time. I am looking forward to playing a true road match against a great opponent in Binghamton."

Sophomore Macy Hatkevich had 24 assists in the first match of the season while graduate transfer Ella Abraham added 17. 

The Rockets defeated Binghamton, 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-23), in the nightcap. The team combined for a .353 hitting percentage with 45 kills and only nine errors. Alt finished the evening with 12 kills while Caylee Sharkey had nine terminations on a .643 hitting clip.

"What a great day for the Rockets," said Oliver following Toledo's victory over the Bearcats. "You never quite know what will happen on the first day of the season, but our team came out with amazing leadership and settled right into the matches. Binghamton is a good team and we found another level in our serve and pass. That really allowed our offense to get going. It was great to see all these new pieces gel and play as one unit."

Three Rockets made their Toledo debuts on Friday afternoon - sophomore Caylee Sharkey, redshirt freshman Sierra Pertzborn and freshman Olivia Heitkamp. Pertzborn had totaled 12 kills across the two matches, with seven coming against Bucknell with two solo blocks. Heitkamp collected 10 kills, six of which coming in the matchup with Binghamton. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE vs. Bucknell

SET ONE - Toledo 25, Bucknell 20

• Kills from Alt and Granger put the Rockets ahead, 4-2. The Bison battled back with a 7-0 surge of their own to take a 9-4 lead. 
• Back-to-back aces from Alt helped Toledo get even, 11-11.
• Hatkevich's second ace of the set put the Rockets up one, 16-15.
• Five straight points from the Rockets, led by Granger, got the team to set point. An ensuing Bucknell error claimed the first set win. 

SET TWO - Toledo 21, Bucknell 25

• Two kills from Pertzborn and an ace from Brooke Naniseni gave the Rockets an early 8-2 lead.
• Down 15-13, the Bison used a 5-0 run to flip the score and take a three point lead, 18-15.
• Alt's seventh kill of the match kept the Rockets within two, 18-16.
• Two terminations from Abraham and Alford kept the set within three, but the Bison finished off the set with a kill.

SET THREE - Toledo 25, Bucknell 15

• The Rockets kicked off the set with a 10-1 run, highlighted by kills from Granger and Sharkey and a solo block from Pertzborn.
• Bucknell claimed four quick points from two kills and an ace to cut into the lead, 13-8. 
• Alt's 10th kill of the match pushed the Rockets further in front, 20-13, and Granger put the set away with her 11th termination of the day on set point.

SET FOUR - Toledo 25, Bucknell 23

• Pertzborn and Sharkey combined for a block to put Toledo in front early, 3-1.
• The Bison used a string of errors and a kill to take a slight 15-13 lead, but two consecutive Alt terminations put the Rockets back in front. 
• Down 22-20, Toledo was able to rattle off three-straight points and take a one-point lead, 23-22. A Bucknell error and kill from Pertzborn secured the match win for the Rockets.

GAME TWO - at Binghamton

SET ONE - Toledo 25, Binghamton 18

• Toledo and Binghamton kept the set neck-and-neck until Alford and Sharkey rattled off consecutive kills to put the Rockets ahead, 10-5. 
• Five consecutive points, thanks to two aces from Grace Freiberger, put the team ahead 23-14.
• Sharkey's third kill of the frame put the Rockets at set point and a Bearcat error gave Toledo the set victory.

SET TWO - Toledo 25, Binghamton 12

• Binghamton got out to a quick 2-0 lead, but the Rockets responded with four-straight points and never looked back.
• A kill from Heitkamp and two Binghamton errors put Toledo ahead, 11-6.
• Two kills from Alt secured the set win for the Rockets.

SET THREE - Toledo 25, Binghamton 22

• Alt's eighth termination of the match put Toledo in the lead, 7-4. The Bearcats responded with five-straight points to take a 9-7 lead.
• After back-and-forth from each side, the Rockets fired off two kills from Alt and Pertzborn to gain a slight 20-18 advantage.
• After a string of Bearcat errors, Heitkamp ended the match with a termination to sweep the Bearcats.

UP NEXT
Toledo will wrap up the Binghamton Bearcat Classic on Saturday, Aug. 31 when it matches up against Merrimack. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m.

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