MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Toledo women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five set battle to UIC, 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 25-22, 20-25, 10-15) in the final contest of the Comfort Inn-Vitational in Morehead, Ky. on Saturday afternoon. The Rockets and the Flames traded sets before UIC was able to pull away in the fifth to grab the win.

Toledo (5-1) rattled off 19 service aces in the match which is tied for the third-most in a single match in program history. This is the third match of the season the Rockets have totaled double-figure aces and the first time since Nov. 8, 2008 with 19 or more.

Junior Avery Adamski had a career-high five service aces while Sierra Pertzborn added four. Senior Macy Meddors chipped in a career-high three aces throughout play.

The Rockets offense was led by freshman Jessica Costlow who had 16 kills and added in 12 digs for the first double-double of her career. Redshirt sophomore Kayla Ozanich poured in 11 kills while Pertzborn and Olivia Heitkamp recorded eight and seven terminations, respectively.

Senior setter Kelsey Smith totaled 43 assists to go with nine digs, three kills and two service aces while sophomore libero Grace Freiberger had a season-high 21 digs alongside two service aces.

Quoting Coach Wright
"UIC is a well-coached team and it was a fun back and forth battle for two and a half hours. We made some adjustments really well throughout the match but just fell a little short late. Tons of depth and stand out performances from so many across the weekend is the key to our continued focus going forward. I'll spend the bus ride home watching video and we'll find a way to learn and grow."

Key Moments

• The Rockets took a 10-5 lead in the first set after a 4-0 run. UIC got within one point after tallying two kills, 16-15. The Flames recorded a service error to put Toledo at set point, 24-20, and a kill from Jessica Costlow secured the set one victory.
• Toledo jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second set after Avery Adamski fired off three consecutive service aces. UIC used a 4-0 run to tie the set, 13-13, before the Rockets regained the lead with an Olivia Heitkamp kill, 21-19. The Flames went back in front, 23-21, but not before Toledo used an ace from Macy Medors to tie the contest, 24-24. UIC tallied two straight kills to take the set win.
• Sierra Pertzborn recorded her fourth ace of the afternoon to put Toledo ahead in the third set, 13-8. Kayla Ozanich and Heitkamp combined for a block to keep the Rockets in front, 22-15. The Flames got within two, 23-21, but kills from Ozanich helped the Rockets claim the set.
• UIC used a 5-0 run to take a 12-7 lead in the fourth set. A block from Heitkamp and Pertzborn put Toledo within one, 15-14, but the Flames were able to keep them at bay with five straight kills. UIC then fired off a 5-1 scoring run to take the fourth set win.
• The Flames came out fast, taking a 9-2 lead in the fifth set. The Rockets battled back and used a 3-0 surge to get within three, 13-10, but a kill and block from UIC secured the match for the Flames.

Up Next
Toledo will head to the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colo. The Rockets will kick off action out west against Denver on Friday, Sept. 12 at 5:00 p.m.

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