Bowling Green started the season as the MAC favorites. Now they are one win away from fulfilling that promise. Now the question is:
Who’s going to stop them?
BGSU used a rampant offensive attack that overwhelmed UB, finishing with a .407 attack percentage for the match and a .500 attack percentage in the finals set as the second-seeded Bowling Green State Falcons (21-9, 15-3 MAC) swept the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bulls (19-13, 10-8 MAC) 25-22, 25-16, 25-16.
“Tonight’s win showcased not just lots of talent that we have but more importantly the teamwork and love that we have for each other,” BGSU Head Coach Danijela Tomic said. “That was best displayed in the relentless team defense which created opportunities for our offense to shine, and on the sidelines where everyone was as encouraging and engaged as those on the floor playing.”
The victory continues the Falcons’ dominance over the Bulls. Bowling Green has now won 14 of the last 16 against Buffalo, including eight straight. The BGSU-UB all-time record stands at 39-10 in favor of Bowling Green.
Lauryn Hovey was recently awarded MAC freshman of the year, and she did more than enough to show why it was her award to win. Making just two errors on 20 attacks while putting up 13 kills, Buffalo had no answers to Hovey’s offensive attack. Petra Indrova and Mia Tyler both continued their phenomenal season as well, putting up an identical stat line of 10 kills and two blocks.
Buffalo was able to upset the third-seeded Ohio Bobcats on Sunday, but the Bulls could not match the aggressive BGSU offense. Senior Courtney Okwara led the way with 10 kills. Buffalo’s season ends with the loss.
For Bowling Green, they will face top-seeded Ball State in the MAC championship. The Cardinals swept Falcons at the Stroh Center in the only meeting between the teams this season. BGSU has not lost since the Ball State match, while the Cardinals have only lost once since Sept. 24.
We are thrilled to earn the opportunity to play for a championship tomorrow,” Tomic said. “Accomplishing that four years in a row is not easy to do and the credit goes to all of our past and current players who have helped us build a second-to-none championship culture at BGSU.”
First serve is set for 4:30 p.m. today.