UT lost 3-1 to Virginia Tech -

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/9/9/w...ath=wvball

Toledo hosting the Blue/Gold Invitational - swept Tennessee Tech this afternoon: 25-23, 25-18, 25-20.

Rockets will face New Mexico tonight.

Rockets split the 1st 2 sets against the Lobos. UT took the 1st 25-21 but loses the 2nd 25-23.

Rockets take set 3, 25-22. Been a nip and tuck match all night so far.

Rockets with a solid set 4 win 25-15, to take the match 3-1. Freshman Chloe Kleespies led the Rockets with 15 kills and a sizzling .433 hitting percentage. Thomas, Vidourek and Beasley all had double digit kills.

New Mexico was 7-3 coming into the match, although I have to say they really haven't played any tough opponents, so hard to say how good they really are. Still, Rockets looked much more consistent today than they have in some of their matches. Still playing without Townsend and Birnbrich, although Birnbrich was dressed tonight, so may be ready for MAC play. Freshman Kleepsies is gonna be a good one.

UT lost to Youngstown State 3-2 to wrap up the Blue/Gold Invitational. Conference play starts Thursday at Central Michigan

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/9/16/...ath=wvball

Annie Beasley MAC West Offensive Player of the Week

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/9/18/...ath=wvball

Rockets lose the MAC opener to the Chips 3-2. Eastern Michigan up next

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/9/21/...ath=wvball

Watched the CMU match last night, and it appears this is gonna be a long season. Frustrating team. Offensively, they were much better than CMU, getting 13 more kills than CMU. Leading hitters Kleespies (18 kills) and Vidourek (17) hit .471 and .640 respectively, which is outstanding. Hard to imagine you could lose a match with numbers like that. But UT had 12 service errors and 6 return errors, and were just inconsistent all night. Strings of 4-5 points where they look like world beaters and then strings of 4-5 points where they would just make a lot of errors.

CMU was not expected to be a team that could contend this year, and only played 9, compared to 13.

Good news, is that both Birnbrich and Townsend were suited up and played, a little. Townsend's hand is still heavily wrapped, and that's not a good thing for a setter. Truthfully, UT looked better when Forster was setting. Hopefully, they will both be improving quickly.

Rockets swept by Eastern Michigan to fall to 0-2 in the MAC

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/9/23/...ath=wvball

Rockets take the 1st set against BSU 25-23. BSU traditionally a top team in the west, so this is a big turnaround from last weekend's performance. Rocket's block was dominant in the 1st set. Townsend is back as the full time setter it seems, and played well, still with a heavily taped hand. Sage with 6 kills.

and the Rockets take set 2, 27-25. Rockets were down by 5 and came back to tie, then down by 4 and came back ... then by 3 ... and at the end of the set, they made more plays than BSU did. Looks like a completely different team than last weekend. Let's hope they can keep it up after intermission.

Sage now has 10 kills. 4 Rockets with at least 3 blocks, led by Vidourek with 5. Leonard has been all over the court making plays. Even has a kill. which is something from a 5'4" libero who's not allowed to attack from the front row, or above the net.

Wow, Rockets absolutely blew away BSU in the 3rd, 25-16. Sage Thomas was on fire in the 3rd, and I think this match was the best I have seen UT play defense in years.

Sage with 15 kills, and .400 hitting. Kleespies with 9, Vidourek with 7 and 6 blocks. Leonard with 18 digs, and Neal with 10. Townsend with 35 assists.

Next up Akron, on Saturday at Savage.

BSU has slipped some. IIRC, their men were a power on the national scene at one time and I think their women have made the NCAAs.

(09-28-2017 07:51 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  BSU has slipped some. IIRC, their men were a power on the national scene at one time and I think their women have made the NCAAs.

Yeah, perhaps, but they were still 10-5 coming into today's game. Didn't expect a UT win in straight sets after losing in 3 straight to EMU. Let's hope this Rockets team shows up Saturday.

(09-28-2017 07:55 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  

(09-28-2017 07:51 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  BSU has slipped some. IIRC, their men were a power on the national scene at one time and I think their women have made the NCAAs.

Yeah, perhaps, but they were still 10-5 coming into today's game. Didn't expect a UT win in straight sets after losing in 3 straight to EMU. Let's hope this Rockets team shows up Saturday.

ANY UT win ever surprises me.

Well, the Rockets team that dominated a good BSU team, was no where to be seen in the 1st set against Akron. UA takes it 25-14, and it wasn't that close. One of the worst sets I've seen. Couldn't receive serve at all. Only 6 kills. Need to wake up quickly.

Rockets improved their play immensely in the 2nd, and take the set 25-21. Vidourek now with 7 kills and 4 blocks. Tied 1-1 going into intermission.

Rockets dominated set 3, and led 24-10, but showing the inconsistency that has been so frustrating, loses 6 straight points before closing it out 25-16. UT up 2-1.