SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Toledo women's volleyball team dropped a five set match to South Dakota State that went right down to the final point on Friday night, 3-2 (22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 31-29, 13-15).

Toledo (7-4) lost the first two sets but rallied to tie the match with wins in the third and fourth sets. The match came down to the fifth and deciding set, with the Jackrabbits pulling out the win with a 15-13 decision.

Toledo was led by Taylor Alt who totaled 21 kills and 18 digs, marking her third double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Izzy Granger added 16 kills and 12 digs for her third double-double of the 2024 campaign and third in four games. Caylee Sharkey poured in 11 kills and two blocks.

Macy Hatkevich tallied 42 assists, a season-best for the sophomore setter. In Friday's match, Hatkevich eclipsed 1,000 career assists while playing in her 37th match. Freshman libero led the team in digs, totaling 21.

Redshirt freshman Kayla Ozanich played her first match of the season, tallying a team-best five blocks and adding four terminations. Anna Alford had four blocks of her own to go along with six kills.

"Wow, what a battle," said head coach Jason Oliver. "We played them to the wire in a hostile environment and we learned a ton about our team. It hurts, no doubt, but we played good enough to beat a great team. That says a lot. I am happy for this experience for our team. I am excited to know our style will produce a win next time we are pushed."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One (25-22 South Dakota State)

• Ella Abraham tallied her first ace of the game, getting the Rockets within one, 4-5.
• South Dakota State jumped out to a four-point lead, but Toledo responded with a 4-0 run of their own to even the match at 11-all.
• A kill from Sierra Pertzborn, a block from Olivia Heitkamp and Pertzborn and an ace from Abraham put Toledo ahead, 15-13.
• A 6-1 run from the Jackrabbits gave South Dakota State the advantage, 21-17. Toledo looked to respond as a kill from Izzy Granger got the Rockets within one, 22-23, but the Jackrabbits took the win off of an error and a kill.

Set Two (25-17 South Dakota State)

• South Dakota State got off to a fast start, taking an 8-1 lead off three kills and two blocks.
• Toledo used a 5-1 run to get within three, 12-9, and tied the match behind three kills from Granger and a termination from Hatkevich.
• The Jackrabbits rattled off a 9-1 run, taking the 2-0 set lead.

Set Three (25-19 Toledo)

• Three kills from Anna Alford and a kill from Kayla Ozanich helped the Rockets keep the set even early, 7-7.
• The Rockets took a slight one-point lead, 13-12, off Sharkey's eighth termination of the night.
• A block from Alford and Hatkevich kept the Rockets in front by four, 21-17.
• Two kills from Alt secured the set win for Toledo.

Set Four (31-29 Toledo)

• Toledo took an 8-2 lead off four kills from Alt, aces from Ozanich and Hatkevich and a block from Alford and Alt.
• The Rockets kept their foot on the gas, recording three quick points to extend their lead, 14-8, and force a South Dakota State timeout.
• South Dakota State used an 8-1 run to get the set within one, 21-20.
• The Rockets and Jackrabbits traded blows to the end of the set, recording nine ties and five lead changed. A kill from Granger and a South Dakota State error turned the set in favor of Toledo and tied the match, 2-2.

Set Fifth (15-13 South Dakota State)

• Toledo jumped out to a 4-2 lead and kept the lead at two with a block from Hatkevich.
• A 4-0 surge by South Dakota State turned the lead over to the Jackrabbits, 9-8.
• Both teams traded points, totaling six ties and four lead changes, but two blocks and a service ace from the Jackrabbits secured match point for South Dakota State.

UP NEXT
Toledo concludes non-conference play on Saturday morning against Idaho State. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m.

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