AKRON, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team clinched a berth to the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-16, 20-25, 25-14) over Akron on Saturday.

This marks the fifth-consecutive MAC Tournament berth for the Rockets, setting a program record. Toledo also earned a 20-win season for the first time in four years as well as posting its fifth-straight season with double-digit conference wins. Head Coach Brian Wright becomes the first women's volleyball coach in UT history to reach the 20-win mark in his first year at the helm.

Redshirt junior Sophie Catalano led the offense, totaling 16 terminations on a career-best .414 clip. Redshirt sophomore Sierra Pertzborn poured in 15 kills of her own on a .333 hitting percentage and tallying a team-high six blocks.

Freshman Jessica Costlow tallied a career-high 14 digs while adding eight kills. Anna Alford tallied a .600 clip with six kills and no errors on 10 attempts.

Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger recorded 15 digs and a team-best two service aces. Senior setter Kelsey Smith had 44 assists to go with 11 digs for her 14th double-double of the season.

The Rockets fired off nine service aces against the Zips, marking the eighth contest this season with nine or more aces in a single match.

Quoting Head Coach Brian Wright
"Our backs were against the wall. This was a single elimination match to get in to the MAC Tournament and this team responded with a fantastic mindset and aggressive play and love for one another in the biggest way on a big stage. This is probably the most aggressive and complete game we've played in the past month and when we needed it the most. This team understands the weight of how they represent Toledo and it means a lot to them to write the history books and earn a MAC tournament berth for a record fifth-straight year. I love how much they care about playing for each other and a bigger purpose. Huge thanks to the 100 fans, friends and family members who made the trip and were loud all night long. It was a huge help in this important battle. We're excited to earn another week together and get after the preparation for MAC postseason play."

Key Moments

• A service ace from Sierra Pertzborn gave Toledo an early 4-2 lead in the first set. Pertzborn tallied a kill to extend the Rockets' lead, 12-7, before Akron scored three straight to get within three, 13-10. Three kills from Sophie Catalano and an ace from Kelsey Smith put UT in front by seven, 18-11. UA fired off a 4-0 run to get within four, 22-18, but Iremnur Elmas ended the set with a service ace to clinch the victory.
• The Rockets and Zips traded points to start off the second set before UT took a 12-9 lead thanks to a kill from Catalano and an Akron error. Grace Freiberger rattled off an ace to extend UT's advantage to six, 16-10, and two consecutive blocks from the front line kept the Rockets in front, 21-13. An error from the Zips put UT at set point, 24-16, and a kill from Anna Alford secured the set win.
• Akron took a slight 5-3 lead in the third set before two kills from Pertzborn helped UT evened the match, 6-6. The Zips fired off a 3-0 surge to retake the lead, 9-6, and remained in front with a block, 15-11. UA took a six-point lead, 18-12, but the Rockets responded with a 3-0 run to get within two, 22-20. Akron scored the last three points of the set to force a fourth set.
• Toledo jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the fourth frame. Kills from Pertzborn extended UT's lead to 10, 15-5. Costlow and Pertzborn combined for a lock to keep the Rockets ahead by double figures, 20-9, and terminations from Olivia Heitkamp and Alford put Toledo at match point, 24-13. Catalano buried her 14th kill of the match to win the match for the Rockets.

Up Next
Toledo earns the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament and will take on No. 5 seed Miami at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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