Volleyball goes undefeated for the weekend

The University of Toledo volleyball team took on Ball State on Thursday, and Akron on Sunday, winning both games by a score of 3-1. UT is now 3-1 in Mid-American Conference play and 10-6 overall, continuing the Rocket’s three-game winning streak.

Junior Saige Thomas led the offense on Thursday, recording 16 kills, and junior Rachel Vidourek added 10 kills and six blocks. Sophomore Grace Tuifua also added 10 kills, helping to lead the team to victory.

Second-year libero Maurissa Leonard anchored the defense with a team-high 19 digs.

“We did the things we had to,�? said head coach Greg Smith. “We served tough and played them good, defensively.�?

The Cardinals took an early 5-3 lead aided by three UT errors, but the Rockets answered with a 5-0, to take a two-point lead.

The teams struggled back and forth, until Ball State took an 18-14 lead that included kills by Emily Holland and Ellie Dunn. They took five of the next six to win the set 25-17.

The Cardinals started the next set with six straight points, forcing UT into an early timeout. The Rockets closed the gap and the game went back and forth, with both teams executing their offense well.

Toledo was down one point late, until an error by Ball State tied the game at 23. They ceased the opportunity as a Tuifua kill gave them the win 25-23. They split the first two sets.

“Just coming back and making subtle changes to our play, and just playing together as a team,�? Smith said when asked about what was different in the third and fourth sets.

The third set was another close one. Neither team could grow the lead bigger than two points from early on in the game.

Ball State scored four straight points, to force Toledo into a timeout halfway through. The Rockets then scored four straight of their own to take a 22-21 lead.

UT scored the last three points to win the set 25-22, including two errors by Holland.

The fourth set was close like the other three, with neither team building a lead of more than three. UT broke away with a 7-0 run to take a 13-5 forcing Ball State into a timeout. The run was capped by kills from Tuifua and senior Mary O’Connor.

The Cardinals did make a run to try and extend the game. They scored seven of the next eight points to cut the lead to 20-16.

However, second-year Carly Townsend helped seal the deal as the Rockets took three of the last four points to win the match. Townsend assisted on all three points.

“Everything started clicking for us,�? said Smith. “I don’t know if there was one key other than we started playing our brand of volleyball.�?

UT returned to action Sunday against Akron with a defense that was rock solid, recording 11 blocks while only giving five to the Zips.

Thomas spearheaded the offense once again with 16 kills and a .389 attack percentage. First-year Zoe Birnbrich added 11 kills and six blocks. O’Connor posted a career-best .529 attack percentage, nine kills and zero errors.

UT took a 4-1 lead thanks to an ace by Leonard and a kill by Birnbrich. The lead grew as big six early on. The Zips battled to cut the lead to as low as three.

Toledo won four straight points to put them ahead 24-16. Akron tried to come back, but UT got the final point and won the set 25-20.

“We came out really tight in the first set, and were really fortunate to win,�? Smith said.

The teams battled early in the second set with neither team pulling ahead. Akron took six straight points to take control. The Zips built on that lead with some effective offensive sets. They executed fours kills to put them ahead 17-9.

UT would get as close as six but could not find a way to stop the Akron offense and dropped the set 25-15.

“We played such a better third and fourth set and I think the numbers show that,�? said Smith.

The teams traded the lead the entire third set. UT was down one when they scored six straight points to take a 20-15 lead.

Akron didn’t give in, however, and they cut lead to as low as two before Toledo took three of the last four points to win the set, including kills by O’Connor and Thomas.

The Rockets commanded the lead in what would be the final set even though it never grew bigger than four points. The Zips put together a 4-0 run to tie the game at 11.

It was a battle after that as Akron scrapped to keep the game alive. UT took a late lead 20-18 before taking three of the next four to put them ahead by four.

Two errors by the Rockets and Akron was only down by one 24-23. But it was Townsend with another clutch pass to Thomas who buried the kill to complete the win for Toledo 25-23.

“I think they realized they’ll be okay when we go on the road,�? said Smith.

UT returns to the road this weekend when they will take on Western Michigan on Friday, Sept. 8 and Northern Illinois Saturday, Sept. 9.