Bethany Lokken - Women's Volleyball Coach - University of Toledo Athletics

Bethany Lokken

Title:
Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach
Email:
bethany.martin3@utoledo.edu
Phone:
419-530-7256

Bethany Lokken is entering her 11th season as an assistant coach for Toledo in 2026. On the court, Lokken is responsible for UT’s middle blockers and manages the team’s serving and blocking during matches. Off the court, she coordinates Toledo’s recruiting efforts and equipment needs while also overseeing the team’s community service efforts.

In her 10th season in the Glass City in 2025, Lokken helped lead the Rockets to their first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Freshman Jessica Costlow was named the MAC Tournament MVP while Grace Freiberger and Kelsey Smith earned All-Tournament Team accolades.The team recorded 285 total blocks, the second-most in program history. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn led the way, setting a new single season program record in total blocks (139) and blocks per set (1.11).

In 2025, the Rockets led the country in service aces (261) and ranked 15th nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.167). Senior setter Kelsey Smith was the only player in the country to tally 1,250 assists, 350 digs and 125 kills. Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger was the only player in the nation to record over 620 digs and 50 service aces. Freiberger also set a new single season digs record of 626 while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn broke the single season program record for blocks (139) and blocks/set (1.11).

From behind the service line in 2025, the Rockets finished the regular season leading the country in total service aces (261). Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger led the team with 50 total aces and became the first Rocket since Kate Bean in 2008 with 50+ aces.

Five Rockets earned postseason accolades following the 2025 regular season, a mark which tied the program best. Freiberger became the first player in program history to be named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year in addition to All-MAC First Team honors. Sophomore Olivia Heitkamp and Kelsey Smith also earned All-MAC First Team accolades. Sierra Pertzborn earned All-MAC Second Team honors while Jessica Costlow was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

During the 2024 season, the Rockets totaled 250.5 blocks which ranks fifth all-time in program history. The mark of 2.18 blocks per set is tied for fourth all-time. Redshirt-freshman Sierra Pertzborn led the team with 119 total blocks, ranking fourth in program single season records, and averaged 1.06 blocks per set which is tied for third all-time. Pertzborn was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

The 2024 squad qualified for the MAC Tournament for the fourth-straight season, setting a program record. The Rockets posted a 10-8 record in conference play. The team then earned a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), the third in four years.

In 2023, the Rockets advanced to the MAC semifinals before falling to eventual champion Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Middle blocker Rhyenne Filisi graduated as one of the top blockers in program history with 0.86 blocks/set.

Toledo posted a 19-13 record and earned its second straight NIVC berth in 2022. The Rockets defeated Clemson in the first round for their second victory over a Power Five program on the season, after defeating Arizona State on Aug. 27, 2022. Lokken helped mentor a pair of skilled middle blockers in Rhyenne Filisi and Olivia Vance, who averaged 0.85 and 0.80 blocks/set, respectively.

The Rockets posted 20 victories for the second time ever in 2021 and earned their first-ever postseason berth. Toledo earned a spot in the NIVC and advanced to the second round. Toledo had its best blocking year ever in 2021, setting school records in total blocks (287.5) and blocks/set (2.42). Individually, Rhyenne Filisi (1.08 blocks/set) and Olivia Vance (1.00) had two of the 10 most productive blocking seasons in school history. The previous team record for blocks/set in a single season was 2.37 in the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.

Under Lokken's tutelage, middle blocker Zoe Birnbrich was named Second-Team All-MAC in 2018 and ended her career ranked second in attack percentage (.308) in school history.
Lokken has helped 10 players earn All-MAC honors throughout her time on the Toledo sidelines, including Taylor Alt who earned All-MAC First Team accolades in each of her five seasons as a Rocket. Lokken also oversaw Alt become the all-time kills leader in the MAC in 2024.

Lokken came to Toledo after serving as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb for five seasons, where she aided in recruiting, practices, scouting, match planning, team travel, academic support and off-season workouts.

Lokken worked extensively with both the middle blockers and right-side hitters at Gardner-Webb. During that time, the Runnin’ Bulldogs set new single-season school records for total blocks (236) and block assists (308). Prior to her work at GWU, Lokken spent two years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan.

As a player, Lokken was a four-year letterwinner at Gardner-Webb at middle blocker. Lokken finished her career with the GWU record for career blocks (228) and tied for ninth overall in service aces (76). She remains one of four student-athletes in GWU’s Division I history to break the 1,000-kill mark (1,060). Lokken also earned Big South Academic All-Conference (2008) and Atlantic Sun Academic All-Conference (2005-07) honors as a student-athlete.

A native of Beaver Dam, Wis., Lokken graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2009 with a degree in health and wellness. Lokken also has received a master’s degree in sports administration from Central Michigan. She was inducted into the Beaver Dam High School Athletic Hall of Fame in Oct. 2021 after a standout career in volleyball, basketball and softball.

Lokken and her husband, Jeremiah, have a daughter, Josie and a son, Teddy. Jeremiah was a standout baseball student-athlete at Gardner-Webb and was selected by the Mets in the MLB Draft out of high school.