University of Toledo Volleyball

Brian Wright was hired as the Rockets' head women's volleyball coach on Dec. 26, 2024. Wright takes over as the eighth head coach in program history, following stops at Ohio State, TCU and Texas. In his first season at the helm of the Rockets, Wright led the team to its first ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship. The team entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and took down the No. 5 seed Miami, 3-2, in the quarterfinals before upsetting No. 1 seeded Ball State in five sets, 3-2. Toledo met No. 2 seed Western Michigan in the championship match and earned a 3-1 victory to earn their first trophy and the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. Freshman Jessica Costlow was named the MAC Tournament MVP as Grace Freiberger and Kelsey Smith earned All-Tournament Team accolades. In 2025, the Rockets led the country in service aces (261) and ranked 15th nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.167). Senior setter Kelsey Smith was the only player in the country to tally 1,250 assists, 350 digs and 125 kills. Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger was the only player in the nation to record over 620 digs and 50 service aces. Freiberger also set a new single season digs record of 626 while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn broke the single season program record for blocks (139) and blocks/set (1.11). Five Rockets earned postseason accolades following the 2025 regular season, a mark which tied the program best. Freiberger became the first player in program

Bethany Lokken is entering her 11th season as an assistant coach for Toledo in 2026. On the court, Lokken is responsible for UT’s middle blockers and manages the team’s serving and blocking during matches. Off the court, she coordinates Toledo’s recruiting efforts and equipment needs while also overseeing the team’s community service efforts. In her 10th season in the Glass City in 2025, Lokken helped lead the Rockets to their first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Freshman Jessica Costlow was named the MAC Tournament MVP while Grace Freiberger and Kelsey Smith earned All-Tournament Team accolades.The team recorded 285 total blocks, the second-most in program history. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn led the way, setting a new single season program record in total blocks (139) and blocks per set (1.11). In 2025, the Rockets led the country in service aces (261) and ranked 15th nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.167). Senior setter Kelsey Smith was the only player in the country to tally 1,250 assists, 350 digs and 125 kills. Sophomore libero Grace Freiberger was the only player in the nation to record over 620 digs and 50 service aces. Freiberger also set a new single season digs record of 626 while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn broke the single season program record for blocks (139) and blocks/set (1.11). From behind the service line in 2025, the Rockets finished the regular season

on Social Media Twitter: @coachhannum41 Brandon Hannum joined the University of Toledo strength & conditioning department in March of 2018. Currently the director of sports performance, Hannum will oversee all Olympic sports strength & conditioning. Hannum has also served as the director of strength & conditioning where he was responsible for designing the strength & conditioning programs for women’s basketball, men’s basketball, softball and volleyball programs. Prior to his arrival at Toledo, Hannum was an assistant strength and conditioning for Eastern Kentucky University for two years. He oversaw the strength program for men’s basketball, track and field, softball, men’s golf, while assisting with the Colonel football team. Before becoming a full-time coach at Eastern Kentucky, Hannum spent one year with North Carolina State’s Olympic sport strength and conditioning program as a professional intern. He primarily worked with diving and men’s and women’s golf. He assisted in various roles with all of the other 19 Olympic sports teams, as well. Hannum was a four-year starting punter for the Rockets from 2000-03. He later graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in sport and leisure leadership studies. He then returned to Toledo and earned his master’s degree in exercise science in 2014. During that time he served as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Rockets. Hannum holds certifications through the Collegiate Strength and Condit

Carrie Schonter-Cherry has served as the director of operations-Olympic sports and business administrator at The University of Toledo since 2015. Prior to her appointment in the Athletic Department, Schonter-Cherry served in a variety of finance positions at UToledo from 2005-11. She left Toledo to become a purchasing card coordinator at the University of Michigan from 2011-12, and then moved on Owens Community College to serve as the Upward Bound specialist from 2012-15 before returning to the Glass City to work for the Rockets. A native of Erie, Mich., Schonter-Cherry graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1998 with a bachelor of science in telecommunications and film. She earned her masters in education from The University of Toledo in 2008. Schonter-Cherry and her husband Roy are proud owners of two Corgis named Sonny and Reacher.

Dr. Connor Whelan was named Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) in June of 2025. In his role at Toledo, Whelan oversees all external operations, including corporate partnerships, revenue strategy, development, premium seating, marketing, brand strategy, ticket sales and fan engagement, playing a key leadership role in the department's financial growth initiatives. He also serves as the sport administrator for men's basketball and women's volleyball. Whelan brings a wealth of experience in athletic administration, fan experience, student engagement, and revenue generation, most recently serving as Associate Athletic Director for Fan Experience and Sales at Mississippi State University. During his tenure at Mississippi State from 2022-25, Whelan spearheaded record-breaking ticket sales, innovative marketing campaigns, and historic attendance milestones. He led the rollout of a new outbound ticket sales program that generated more than $5 million in revenue and set all-time football ticket revenue records ($27.1 million in 2023). He also led the strategy for "Super Bulldog Weekend," which set an NCAA on-campus baseball attendance record (16,423 fans) and generated more than $1 million in revenue. Prior to Mississippi State, Whelan served as Assistant Athletic Director for Fan Experience and Sales at Wake Forest University where he guided football marketing efforts to three sellouts and set record-breaking ticket revenue numbers in 2021. Whelan also held posi

Jordan Armstrong joined the Toledo women's volleyball program as an Assistant Coach in 2024 and was promoted to Assistant Coach & General Manager on Feb. 12,...

Mariah Copeland joined the University of Toledo Student-Athlete Support Services staff in August 2023 as an Assistant Academic Coordinator. She was promoted to Learning Specialist in August of 2024. Copeland currently oversees the women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, women's track & field, and women's swimming & diving programs. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Copeland is a University of Toledo graduate, having earned her bachelor's degree in business marketing in 2021 and her master's degree in business administration (MBA) in 2022. Copeland's connection to the University goes beyond academics. She was a member of the Women's Basketball team from 2017 to 2022. During her time at Toledo, she also gained experience as an intern with the UToledo athletics marketing department and served as a Mid-American Conference Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion intern.

Sydnee Miller was named assistant athletic trainer at the University of Toledo in August of 2023. She serves as the athletic trainer for the volleyball and cheerleading programs. A native of Monroe, Mich., Miller graduated with a bachelors degree in athletic training from Central Michigan in 2019. She earned her master’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in athletic training from Temple in 2023.

Trinity Adams joined the Toledo women's volleyball coaching staff in May 2025 as an assistant coach. Adams comes to the Glass City following a four-year play...