Four Rockets Earn Preseason All-MAC Honors as Toledo Picked First in Preseason Poll

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team was selected first in the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches poll while four members of the team were named to the Preseason All-MAC Team, the conference office announced on Monday.

Jessica Costlow, Grace Freiberger, Olivia Heitkamp and Sierra Pertzborn, all returners from the 2025 conference tournament championship squad, earned the preseason accolade.

Costlow, the 2025 MAC Tournament MVP and All-Freshman Team honoree, totaled 309 digs, 284 kills, 40 service aces and 34 blocks throughout her first collegiate season. The Monroe, Mich. native recorded eight double-doubles during her freshman season and tallied double-digit digs in 15 matches.

Freiberger, the 2025 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, ranked third in the country and first in the league in digs with 626, a mark that also set the single-season program record. The Lima, Ohio native led the MAC in digs per set (4.7) and tallied 30 double-figure dig matches throughout the season. Freiberger was first in the conference in total service aces (51) and third in the league in aces per set (0.38).

Heitkamp was a 2025 First Team All-MAC honoree and led the Rockets' offense with 364 total kills during her sophomore season. She ranked top-10 in the league in kills per set (3.08) and helped the squad to the third-ranked hitting percentage in the conference (.214). The New Bremen, Ohio native had 19 matches with double-figure kills last season.

Pertzborn earned All-MAC Second Team accolades in 2025 after ranking second in the MAC and top-40 in the nation in total blocks (139). Her blocks also set a new single-season program record. The Middleton, Wis. native fired off 1.11 blocks per set, a mark that was sixth in the league, and was second on the squad with 42 service aces to rank fifth in the MAC. Pertzborn also tallied 285 total kills throughout the season.

In the team preseason poll, the Rockets were picked as the conference favorite with 92 total points and seven first-place votes to go along with six votes as MAC Tournament Champions. Ball State was chosen second with 91 points, and Western Michigan was picked third with 78 points.

Toledo will kick off the 2026 season with the Rocket Invitational Presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29 in Savage Arena. Season tickets and single match tickets are available at UTRockets.com/VBTix, by visiting the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena or by calling (419) 530-GOLD.

2026 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First Place Votes in ()
1. Toledo – 92 pts. (7)
2. Ball State – 91 pts. (3)
3. Western Michigan – 78 pts.
T-4. Bowling Green – 71 pts.
T-4. Ohio – 71 pts. (1)
6. Miami – 59 pts.
7. Akron – 41 pts.
8. Buffalo – 35 pts.
9. Eastern Michigan – 31 pts.
10. Central Michigan – 21 pts.
11. Kent State – 15 pts.

Players Mentioned

Jessica Costlow

Grace Freiberger

Olivia Heitkamp

Sierra Pertzborn