Toledo Takes Down Denver in Five-Set Thriller

Friday, September 12

Boulder, Colo.

3:00 p.m. MT/5:00 p.m. ET

University of Toledo

6-1,0-0MAC

Denver

4-2,0-0Summit League

Toledo

Denver

Sophie Catalano (right) recorded a career-high 17 kills in the five-set victory over Denver.

Photo by: Ellen Holton

9/12/2025 8:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Four Rockets tally double-figure kills in Friday night victory

BOULDER, Colo. – The Toledo women's volleyball team grabbed a 3-2 victory (25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-11) over Denver in the opening match of the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colo. The match saw 24 ties and nine lead changes throughout its entirety.

The Rockets (6-1) saw four players earn double-figure kills, led by senior Sophie Catalano with a career-best 17 terminations. Iremnur Elmas poured in 12 kills, including nine between the fourth and fifth sets.

Redshirt sophomore Sierra Pertzborn added 12 kills to go along with eight total blocks, five of which came in the first set. Freshman Jessica Costlow tallied 11 kills to go with nine digs and a career-best four service aces.

Senior setter Kelsey Smith recorded a career-high 54 assists alongside nine digs and six kills. Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger tallied 16 digs while Macy Medors poured in a season-best eight digs.

Quoting Coach Wright
"Phenomenal maturity and fight from our team tonight. Over a 2.5 hour battle of back-and-forth high IQ volleyball on both sides. So many different people stepped up in big time moments. Most importantly, we stayed together throughout and fought hard mentally and physically."

Key Moments

The Rockets used a 3-0 run in the first set to take a 13-10 lead, highlighted by a solo block from Sierra Pertzborn. Avery Adamski rattled off a service ace to push the Rockets lead to 18-11. Denver put together a 3-0 surge to get within one, 22-21, before a kill from Jessica Costlow put the Rockets at match point. An attack errors from the Pioneers secured the set one victory.
Denver jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the second set. A 4-0 run with Adamski behind the service line tied the match, 16-16, but Denver took the set win behind a kill and a solo block.
The third set saw much back-and-forth before the Rockets jumped out to a five point lead, 17-12, behind blocks from Anna Alford, Iremnur Elmas and Sophie Catalano. Two straight aces from Jessica Costlow put Toledo at set point and an error from the Pioneers secured the set win.
Denver took a 9-5 lead in the fourth set but the Rockets fired off a 4-0 run to tie the match, 16-16. A Pioneers block put Denver ahead, 21-19, before the teams traded points. Elmas fired off kills to tie the match, 25-25, before a kill and an ace from Denver forced a fifth set.
A solo block by Kelsey Smith gave Toledo an 8-5 lead in the fifth set. A Costlow kill and ace kept the Rockets in front, 11-7. Elmas fired off her 12th termination of the night and secured the match victory for Toledo.

Up Next
Toledo continues competition at the Buffs Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Rockets will meet the host Buffaloes at 8:00 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN+.

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