Following a five-match home stand last week, the BG volleyball team continued its winning streak on the road at rival Toledo and Ball State.

BG made quick work in both games, downing the Rockets 3-1 and the Cardinals 3-0. The wins improved the Falcons to 17-7 and 8-2 in the MAC.

BG found itself trailing late in game one 26-24 as they pulled within one, as Stephanie Swiger was able to drop the ball between two Rockets. The next three plays would result in side outs by both teams until Toledo took a 29-26 lead. Despite BG’s battle, Toledo would take the game on the next point.

“They hit very well in game one and I thought we were a little bit slow and playing reactionary volleyball, just kind of waiting to see what Toledo was going to do,” said head coach Denise Van De Walle.

In game two, the Falcons came out strong, exchanging points with Toledo until the Falcons were able to eventually take a six-point lead at 15-9. .BG closed it out with a kill by sophomore Corey Domek and two Rocket errors.

BG began to control it in the third and fourth games proving who was the better volleyball school on I-75.

The Falcons continued to dominate the net as the combination of Swiger and freshman setter Sam Fish didn’t allow any clean shots from the net, helping them amass an 18-10 lead. BG closed out the match on 12-9 run and a pair of blocks from juniors Meghan Mohr and Kendra Halm to clinch it.

Starting game four with Fish on the serving line, BG jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Toledo didn’t go away easily, though, as they battled back to pull the score within three at 13-10. BG would hold the lead by being very aggressive at the net, hitting .355 as a team. The Falcons ended the game and the match on a kill by Swiger.

“What’s really cool about having a rival in the MAC is whenever you play each other it’s all-out volleyball. Both teams are going to bring their very best game. We knew Toledo was going to bring their very best game, which they did; they played their hearts out. We think it’s a great statement to a rival on the road,” Swiger said.

Statistically Swiger led BG at the net with 19 kills on 32 attempts and only three errors. As a team the Falcons frustrated Toledo at the net limiting it to a .167 hitting percentage and blocking 16 balls.

The match also served as the first game back for senior Madeline Means after a severe ankle sprain that kept her out for three weeks.

“She practiced all week and did fine, I’m sure her ankle’s a little bit sore. She’s ready to go, she’s a senior she wants to be on the floor,” Van De Walle said.

Following the Toledo win, BG headed Van De Walle’s Alma matter Ball State for another match.

In game one of the match, the Falcons spotted the Cardinals an early five-point lead. BG would fight back to tie the game at 15, but could never take more than a three-point lead. Both teams exchanged leads late, including one stretch of 16 straight side outs starting at 24-24 resulting in a 33-32 Cardinal lead after Meghan Mohr missed on the attack.

The next play, BG would tie on a Ball State error, only to have the Cardinals come right back. BG took the lead 35-34 on a kill by Means than won on a service ace that dropped just inside the back left corner by senior Maggie Karges.

Karges’ ace not only won the game but moved her to ninth all time in service aces. Game two appeared to be headed to the upper 30s like game one as both teams battled to an early 5-5 tie. However the Falcons exploded on the Cardinals, getting kills from Swiger, Meghan Mohr, Domek, Means and Halm, and winning the game 30-14.

“They were kind of out-working us the first game. We knew we were a better team than them, that’s not the case. [In the] second game we came out there, played awesome defense and took it to them,” Means said.

In game three, BG closed the deal in another close game late at 25-24. BG didn’t have to do much work to finish the Cardinals as Ball State’s Abby Lavigne committed four attack errors.

The Falcons dominated the net, holding Ball State to a .042 hitting percentage, and both Means and junior Chelsey Meek recorded double digit digs.

Following the weekend sweep, the Falcons come home for “Jam the Gym” on Wednesday as they face MAC East-leading Miami at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena.