With a pair of wins against Northern Illinois, the Toledo women’s volleyball team moves to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in MAC play.
The Rockets started the season off strong, with three wins at the Binghamton Bearcat Classic in Vestal, N.Y. at the end of August. Toledo beat Bucknell 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23) and swept Binghamton 3-0 the first day (25-18, 25-12, 25-22).
On the second day of play, the Rockets beat Merrimack 3-1 (25-11, 24-26, 25-20, 25-20) to start their season off on a three-win streak.
In early September, the Cyclone Invitational in Ames, Iowa was a heavy loss for the Rockets, who fell in three matches. They lost to Iowa State 0-3 (20-25, 26-28, 17-25) in the first match of the invitational on Sep. 5, then to Illinois 0-3 the next day (9-25, 19-25, 18-25). On Sep. 7, the last day of play, the Rockets battled Wake Forest, but ultimately lost 2-3 (25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16, 15- 10).
Upon their return to Savage Arena to host the Rocket Invitational Sep. 13 and 14, the women shook off the bad mojo of the Iowa tournament and returned to their winning ways.
On the first day of play, the Rockets got a pair of four-set victories over Eastern Washington and Northern Kentucky in their first home games of the 2024 season. The Rockets beat EWU (25-15, 25-18, 19-25, 25-21) and NKU (24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18). On the second day of play, the Rockets swept Marshall 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-21).
To finish off the last of their non-conference games, the Rockets went 1-2 at the Jackrabbit Invitational Sept. 19-21 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Rockets swept Belmont in three sets (25-15, 25-22, 15-19) to open the invitational. In a hard fought five sets on the second day of play, Toledo lost to South Dakota State 2-3 (22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 31-29, 13-15).
On the final day of play, the Rockets fell to Idaho State 1-3 (20-25, 25-21, 23- 25, 18-25) despite three Rockets recording double digit kills.
In the conference home opener Sept. 27, the Rockets swept Northern Illinois in three sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-18).
Toledo was led by fifth-year senior outside hitter Taylor Alt, who tallied 18 kills, four digs, and an ace. Junior outside hitter Izzy Granger totaled 11 kills and 12 digs, also tying her season high with four service aces. Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich totaled 35 assists, averaging 11.7 per set.
The Rockets crushed Northen Illinois in three sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) on Sept. 28 in Savage Arena.
Toledo was led by Granger with 14 kills and 11 digs, her second consecutive double-double and fifth of the season, and an ace. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kayla Ozanich had a team-best five blocks, including two solo blocks while also adding seven kills. Alt added seven kills, an ace, and a team high of 14 digs. Hatkevich totaled 34 assists, as well as eight digs, two blocks, and a kill of her own.
During the Rockets Invitational, Taylor Alt eclipsed 1,000 career digs, while Macy Hatkevich eclipsed 1,000 Career assists at the Jackrabbit Invitational.
