TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo women's volleyball team will look to continue its strong start to the 2024 season at Iowa State's Cyclone Invitational in Ames, Iowa on Sept. 5-7. The Rockets will play three matches across three days, competing against Iowa State, Illinois and Wake Forest.

Toledo (3-0, 0-0 MAC) will begin play against host Iowa State on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. The squad will meet Illinois on Friday, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m. and wrap up the weekend against Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m. All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

ROCKET NOTES

• The Rockets got off to a 3-0 start after sweeping Binghamton's Bearcat Classic. Toledo earned wins over Bucknell, Binghamton and Merrimack.
• Taylor Alt was named MVP of the Bearcat Classic. Alt averaged 3.90 kills per set throughout the weekend and tallied nine service aces. Seven of Alt's aces came against Merrimack, setting a new-career high.
• Izzy Granger and Sierra Pertzborn were named to the All-Tournament Team at the Bearcat Classic. Granger averaged 2.36 kills per set and added 2.27 digs per set. Pertzborn totaled 21 kills and 14 blocks, including three solo blocks. The redshirt freshman is averaging 1.27 blocks per set.
• Two Rockets tallied hitting percentages over .600 at Binghamton. Caylee Sharkey owned a .643 clip, while Pertzborn followed with a percentage of .625. This marks the first time since Sept. 14, 2019 that a Rocket has hit over .600 in a match.

SCOUTING THE CYCLONES

• Iowa State enters the tournament with a record of 1-1, earning a win against Pacific and dropping a match to UNLV last weekend.
• Preseason All-Big 12 Team selection Nayeli Gonzalez leads the Cyclones offense so far. Gonzalez is averaging 3.60 kills per set after the first weekend of play. 
• The Cyclones totaled a record of 20-10 in 2023, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State fell to Hawai'i, 3-1, in the first round of the championship.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING ILLINI

• Illinois is off to a 3-0 start, earning wins over Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Illinois State.
• Raina Terry paces the Illini offense, averaging 3.40 kills per set and 1.80 digs per set.
• Illinois concluded the 2023 season with an overall record of 16-14 (11-9 Big Ten).

SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS

• Wake Forest enters the weekend with a 2-1 record, grabbing wins against West Virginia and Navy and dropping a match to Hofstra during the opening weekend.
• Four Deacons totaled 20-plus kills throughout the first weekend of the season. Olivia Murphy leads the way, averaging 2.64 terminations per set.
• Wake Forest concluded the 2023 season with a final record of 17-12 (8-10 ACC). 

SERIES STUFF
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Rockets and the Cyclones.

Illinois leads the all-time series, 1-0. The only meeting came on Sept. 15, 2007 in Toledo, Ohio.

Wake Forest owns a 2-0 advantage over the Rockets. The last meeting was in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Aug. 25, 2023.

UP NEXT
Toledo will return to Savage Arena for the Rocket Invitational on Sept. 13-14. The Rockets will open their home season against Eastern Washington on Friday, Sept. 13 at 12:00 p.m.

Follow the Rockets
Instagram: Toledo_VB
Twitter/X: Toledo_VB
Facebook: Toledo Volleyball