VESTAL, N.Y. - The Toledo women's volleyball team defeated Merrimack 3-1 (25-11, 24-26, 25-20, 25-20) in the final day of action at the Binghamton Bearcat Classic in Vestal, N.Y. Saturday afternoon. The victory completed a three-game sweep for the Rockets in the tournament, moving their record to 3-0 on the season.

The Rockets tallied 17 service aces as a squad, the most in a match since Sept. 21, 2019 when they registered 18 against North Alabama. Toledo recorded seven of its 17 aces in the first set.

"This was a great opening weekend for us," said head coach Jason Oliver. "I am happy with the overall energy and commitment of our team to playing Rocket volleyball. Our team, from top to bottom, really competed as one and I am excited to get back into the gym and work on some of the things we learned about our game."

Taylor Alt paced the Rockets offense, totaling 11 kills and setting a career-high with six service aces. Sierra Pertzborn recorded nine kills while Emily Honzelka followed with eight terminations. 

Grace Freiberger led the team in digs with 14 and poured in four service aces, both career-bests for the freshman. Izzy Granger added nine digs and four aces. 

Macy Hatkevich recorded a team-high 16 assists while Ella Abraham had 11 assists to go with nine digs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET ONE (25-11 Toledo)

• With Alt behind the service line, the Rockets grabbed five consecutive points to take a 10-5 lead.
• Toledo extended the lead to 19-9 behind kills from Caylee Sharkey and Hatkevich and an ace from Granger.
• Back-to-back terminations from Alt and Pertzborn put the squad ahead by 11, and the set victory was secured with an ace from Abraham.

SET TWO (26-24 Merrimack)

• Merrimack used a 4-0 surge to take a 14-5 lead.
• Toledo cut into Merrimack's lead to 19-15 thanks to a Pertzborn block, two terminations from Brooke Naniseni and an ace from Maija Eglitis.
• Pertzborn and Hatkevich helped to tie the set at 24, but Merrimack took the set win off of a kill.

SET THREE (25-20 Toledo)

• The Warriors jumped out to a 9-6 advantage, but the Rockets battled back to take an 11-9 lead behind kills from Honzelka and Heitkamp and three service aces from Alt.
• Honzelka's seventh kill of the match put Toledo up 21-15.
• Sharkey grabbed the set point with a kill and put Toledo ahead 2-1 in the match.

SET FOUR (25-20 Toledo)

• Emily Heitkamp and Honzelka teamed up for a block to put Toledo in front, 7-3.
• Alt extended the lead to 12-5, after tallying her sixth ace of the afternoon.
• A kill from Abraham and a Merrimack error put the Rockets ahead 20-14, and the team secured the victory off of two consecutive service aces from Granger.

UP NEXT
Toledo heads to Ames, Iowa to compete in the Cyclone Invitational. The first match of the tournament will be against Iowa State on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

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