Box Score TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo senior setter Kelsey Smith eclipsed 2,000 career assists to help the women’s volleyball team record a 3-1 victory (25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20) over Western Michigan on Friday night at Savage Arena.
UT’s win over the Broncos is its first since a 3-1 decision on Oct. 15, 2022 in Kalamazoo, Mich. and its first win at Savage Arena since Oct. 16, 2021 when the Rockets also tallied a four-set win.
The Rockets are now 18-7 overall (9-4 MAC) and in second place in the Mid-American Conference standings.
Senior Sophie Catalano led the Toledo offense, totaling a career-high 18 kills on a .385 clip to go along with five digs and four blocks. Sophomore Olivia Heitkamp poured in 14 terminations for her 13th match with double-figure kills this season. Senior Anna Alford recorded seven kills on a .412 hitting percentage and added three blocks.
On the defensive side, sophomore libero Grace Freiberger tallied 28 digs, five assists and two service aces. The 28 digs mark her 10th match of the season with 20-plus digs. Senior Macy Medors and freshman Jessica Costlow tallied 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
Smith totaled 50 assists en route to reaching 2,000 career assists while adding 11 digs for her 10th double-double of the season.
Quoting Head Coach Brian Wright
“I loved how mentally locked in we were throughout the match. That was a battle of two high IQ teams and I was proud of our fight. Sophie (Catalano) had a great offensive match and Kelsey (Smith) ran a really efficient offense.”
On Kelsey Smith reaching 2,000 career assists:
“From the moment Kelsey committed and showed up on campus in early January, we knew she was going to do big things. I’m proud of her for hitting 2,000 career assists and even more proud of the way she leads this team and studies the game and just brings herself and personality to every single day. She’s an amazing setter, an amazing teammate and an amazing person. I am so glad she’s leaving her Rocket Legacy.”
Key Moments
- Toledo took an early 6-3 lead in the first set off two kills each from Sierra Pertzborn and Olivia Heitkamp. Anna Alford extended the Rockets’ lead with a kill, 10-7, before Western Michigan used a 6-1 run to take the lead, 17-12. Three quick points from UT put the Rockets back in front, 21-20, and Grace Freiberger fired off back-to-back service aces to take a 23-20 advantage. An error from WMU put Toledo at set point and a kill from Smith secured the win.
- An early 3-0 surge by the Broncos gave them the slight lead in set two, 7-4. A Rockets’ service error extended WMU’s advantage, 11-8, before an 8-1 run by Toledo put UT in control, 16-12. A kill from Alford extended Toledo’s lead to four, 21-17. The Rockets finished off the set with a 4-0 run and Jessica Costlow secured the set win with a kill.
- Western Michigan took an early 4-2 lead in the third set, but the Rockets responded using a 4-0 run to get in front, 6-4. The Broncos fired off a 5-0 run to retake the lead, 10-7, and used two kills to stay ahead, 18-11. UT used an 8-2 surge to get within one, 20-19, and a kill from Costlow evened the match, 20-20. Kayla Ozanich and Smith combined for a block to keep the Rockets in front, 22-21, but WMU used a 4-1 run to finish out the set and force a fourth set.
- A kill from Costlow gave Toledo a slight lead in the fourth set, 6-4, before both teams continued to trade points throughout the middle of the frame. A 7-0 surge with Macy Medors behind the service line, highlighted by a Smith kill and back-to-back aces, put UT in front, 22-16. A kill from Catalano put the Rockets at match point, 24-20, and Costlow’s ninth termination of the night secured the match win.
Up Next
Toledo wraps up the season series against Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Savage Arena. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+.
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This article was published by UT Rockets on 2025-10-31 22:02:00
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