AMES, Iowa - The Toledo women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match to Iowa State, 3-0 (20-25, 26-28, 17-25), in the first match of the Cyclone Invitational on Thursday evening. 

Toledo (3-1, 0-0 MAC) and Iowa State went head-to-head, recording 16 lead changes and nine ties throughout the entire match. In the second set alone, there were 10 ties and five lead changes. 

"What a great experience for this 2024 version of the Rockets," said head coach Jason Oliver. "We learned a lot out of this match about our game and our mentality. This team is thirsty for more and I know we will bounce back with a more consistent Rocket performance tomorrow."

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich tallied her first double-double of the season, totaling 10 assists and 10 digs. Outside hitter Taylor Alt poured in nine kills and an ace while Grace Freiberger added nine digs of her own.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-20 Iowa State)

• After a back-and-forth start the match, the Rockets grabbed a 10-6 lead behind two consecutive aces from Grace Freiberger.
• A Taylor Alt termination and two aces from Ella Abraham kept Toledo ahead, 16-10.
• Iowa State used a 6-0 surge to take a three-point lead, 21-18, and then later secured the set with an ace.

SET TWO (28-26 Iowa State)

• Olivia Heitkamp recorded a solo block to get Toledo within one, 5-4. 
• The Cyclones tied the match with an error and surged ahead for a five point lead with a 5-1 run of their own. 
• Toledo used a 7-1 surge, started by a block from Izzy Granger and Sierra Pertzborn, to regain the lead and get ahead by two, 20-18. 
• Iowa State battled back to tie the match. Both sides traded blows towards the end, but the Cyclones pulled away with a block to take the second set.

SET THREE (25-17 Iowa State)

• The Cyclones took an early six-point lead, but the Rockets cut it in half behind a kill from Caylee Sharkey and a block from Pertzborn and Alt.
• Abraham's third ace of the night got the Rockets within one, 8-7.
• A kill from Hatkevich kept Toledo within three, 16-13.
• Iowa State took a six-point lead, taking the match victory off of two consecutive kills.

UP NEXT
Toledo will continue play in the Cyclone Invitational, taking on Illinois on Friday, Sept. 6. First serve from Ames, Iowa is set for 5:00 p.m.

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