Toledo Falls to Dayton in Non-Conference Finale, 3-2

Saturday, September 19

Toledo, Ohio

11 a.m.

University of Toledo

8-2,0-0MAC

Dayton

8-5,0-0Atlantic 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Dayton	25	18	25	22	16	3
Toledo	19	25	16	25	14	2

Sophie Catalano totaled 13 kills against Dayton on Saturday morning.

Photo by: Bree Bee

Toledo Falls to Dayton in Non-Conference Finale, 3-2

9/19/2026 2:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Three Rockets record double-figure kills on Saturday morning

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team dropped its final non-conference contest of the season to Dayton at Savage Arena on Saturday morning, 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 14-16).

Toledo (8-2) had three players total double-figure kills. Olivia Heitkamp, Sophie Catalano and Sierra Pertzborn all tallied 13 terminations while Ava Siefke poured in nine kills of her own.

Junior libero Grace Freiberger paced the defense with a season-high 29 digs and 13 assists for her first double-double of the season. Janelle Green fired off 21 assists and 14 digs to record her fourth double-double of the season.

Quoting Head Coach Brian Wright
"Today was a battle. Both teams played a lot of high level volleyball. I loved our fight. There were times where we were smooth and controlling the play and a lot of times where we were on our heels and had to find a way. In all those cases, we battled and I'm proud of that fight. Over the course of all non conference play, I love how many different people have stepped in to major roles and how our togetherness and bench has been great consistently. We've learned a lot and I'm super excited to continue to train and grow. Thanks again to Rocket Nation for waking up early and for another amazing crowd."

Key Moments

Dayton took a 9-5 lead in the first set and extended their advantage to 18-12, before the Rockets fired off a 3-0 run to get within three, 18-15. The Flyers were able to run away with the set behind a pair of kills and an error.
The Rockets and Flyers went back-and-forth throughout the beginning of the second set. Ava Siefke and Lilly merk combined for a block and Janelle Green fired off an ace to put Toledo in front, 19-13. Two consecutive kills from Sophie Catalano kept UT ahead, 21-16, and Catalano secured the set win for the Rockets with her ninth kill of the day.
Dayton held an early 7-4 lead in the third set and extended their advantage to six, 13-7. The Flyers remained in front for the entire set and took the victory on a block and a kill.
Toledo and Dayton traded points to kick off the fourth set, before the Flyers took an 8-6 lead. Back-to-back kills from Catalano evened the set, 8-8, but Dayton responded with a 6-1 run to regain a 14-10 advantage. An 8-1 run by the Rockets, capped off by an ace from Green, put Toledo back in front 19-16. The Flyers had three-straight points to keep the set even,19-19. Toledo ended the set on a 3-0 run to take the win and force a fifth set.
The Rockets started out the fifth set with a 4-0 run behind a block from Pertzborn and an Olivia Heitkamp kill. Dayton battled with a 4-0 run of their own to take an 8-7 lead, before Toledo evened the match with another Pertzborn termination, 12-12. Two kills from Heitkamp leveled the match again, 14-14, before Dayton won the match with a kill and a UT error.

Up Next
Toledo will begin Mid-American Conference play with a pair of road matches at Akron and Buffalo. The Rockets will meet the Zips on Friday, Sept. 25 and the Bulls on Sunday, Sept. 27.