Rockets lead the match 1-0 in Kent. Toledo defeated the Golden Flashes 25-23 in the first set.

Rockets defeat Kent State 25-22 in the second set

Rockets take a 2 set lead. In both sets KSU had a 4 point lead and 21 points, and yet UT came back to win each one.

Rockets take set 3 pretty easily to sweep the match. Rockets now 5-3 in MAC play.

Wow! Dogs playing with cats. Oil mixing with water. Sheldon enjoying time with Kripke. The world has gone mad.

Link to a story about the Kent State match. Rockets face Miami and BG next weekend.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/10/14...ath=wvball

Well, BSU and WMU both lost yesterday, so that puts UT in a tie for 1st with those two squads, and a tie for 3rd overall.

Miami and BG are the class of the East, so next weekend will tell a lot as to how good the Rockets can be.

(10-14-2017 08:48 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  Wow! Dogs playing with cats. Oil mixing with water. Sheldon enjoying time with Kripke. The world has gone mad.

Naw, this happens every 4 years or so, as the Rockets won the west in 2013. Ok, so that's the only time they have won anything, but it was a start.

Truthfully, the Rockets this year have a lot of talent. I haven't seen BG play yet, who is kinda running away with the east, but of the teams I have seen the Rockets front line matches up equal or better than all of them. The D and the passing is what has been shaky at times. Service and receiving error have cost the Rockets a couple matches. I hope they can put it all together down the stretch and make a push for the west. We'll see.

Zoe Birnbrich is still not playing, even though she is dressed and seems to be recovered from her injury. So, I don't know if they are trying to get her a redshirt for the year, or the other players have just passed her. She was very impressive in her freshman season last year.

4 Freshmen are making major contributions for the Rockets this year, and the announcers have reported that Coach Smith has said that next year's class is even better. Rockets lose a lot to graduation this year, but it looks like they are restocking for the future.

Maurissa Leonard MAC West Defensive Player of the Week and Rachel Vidourek MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/10/16...ath=wvball

Rockets having a long night (or maybe it's a short night) against Miami.

Rockets came out playing well in the 1st and even snuck out to a small lead about half way through, but then errors started to creep in and Miami pulled away to take it 25-17. The 2nd was a complete disaster. Rockets were just flat out bad, and Miami just rolled 25-10 - and truthfully it wasn't that close.

First time I've seen Miami this year and they are good. They don't make mistakes. Their court positioning is near perfect, passing is on point and they have several really good hitters.

Coach switched up the lineup in set 3, putting in Birnbrich and Sendlebach and it worked at the start. UT ran out to a 13-9 lead, but as happens so often, a bad patch of about 5 points let Miami take the lead. Rockets pulled back to within 1 at 22-23, but couldn't finish the comeback and Miami takes the 3rd and the match 25-22.

Was nice to see Birnbrich in the lineup, as she played very well with several kills, especially after not playing most of the season.

Short turnaround to playing that school down south tomorrow. They are leading the east, so that one won't be any easier.

Close 1st set against BG, but Rockets can't ever nose ahead. BG takes it 25-22.

And just like last night, Rockets fall apart in set 2 and lose it 25-11.

Rockets make a heck of a turnaround in set 3 and take it 25-21. Still trail 2 sets to 1.

Rockets ran out to a 15-11 lead in set 4, but then gave up 5 straight points - 4 of which were on errors. Did stay even til 19-19, but the errors came back the last few points and the Rockets lose 25-21, 3 sets to 1.

This team is so frustrating to watch. You can see the talent, but they are so inconsistent and up and down. They can overcome that inconsistency against lesser teams, but not against the better ones. Rockets had 36 attack errors, 9 service errors and 6 reception errors. That's almost 2 sets worth of points.

Annie Beasley led the Rockets with 12 kills, and was the only Rocket to hit better than .100 tonight.

Maurissa Leonard MAC West Defensive Player of the Week, even though the Rockets lost twice.

UT hosts Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan this weekend -

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/10/23...ath=wvball

Rockets start out slow, but finish strong and take set 1 against EMU 25-21.

Sage Thomas got her 1000th career kill during the set. Reportedly the 7th player in school history to reach that milestone.

Rockets dominate set 2, 25-16 to go up 2 sets to 0

Rockets sprinted out to a 19-6 lead in set 3, playing probably their best ball of the season, but then ran into one of their rough patches, and had to hang on to win 25-19. Rockets take the match 3-0, and more to 6-5 in MAC play.

Sage Thomas led UT with 14 kills.

And, although Brett reported she was the 7th Rocket in history to reach 1000 kills, I checked the media guide and according to it, she is the 10th. Last player to do that was Lauren Rafdal in 2013.

Here's a link to the story about the Eastern Michigan match. UT hosts Central Michigan tonight.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/10/27...ath=wvball