Earlier today, BGSU Volleyball forced four sets with the #14 Baylor Bears to close out their weekend on the road.
After winning the first set, the Falcons were unable to hold a big enough lead to secure the remaining three sets. This match moves the Falcons below .500 on the season with a current 4-5 record.
Here’s how it went.
Set 1: 25-21 (BGSU)
Baylor started the match by taking the first point, though a kill by Alexis Mettille quickly evened the score. Baylor responded with a 3-0 run, taking an early 4-1 lead. Bowling Green continued playing catch-up, but Baylor remained in the lead until the Falcons logged a quick two-point burst to tie it up 7-7.
BGSU played in step with the Bears for a while but was still unable to grab the lead. After two consecutive kills by Lauryn Hovey, the Falcons tied the score 13-13.
Soon after, the Falcons came to life with a 5–1 stretch, grabbing the lead for the first time in the match. With Bowling Green in the lead, Baylor started to close the gap with two quick kills, the score now 17-16.
A 3-0 run from the Falcons extended the lead to 21-17 forcing a Baylor timeout. Baylor jumped in and started to close the gap, 22-19. BGSU held their lead and with the help of three Falcon kills, Bowling Green secured the first set 25-21.
Set 2: 25-14 (Baylor)
Starting set two, the Bears logged the first point but it was quickly tied up by a kill by Amanda Otten. The Bears briefly grabbed a 4-2 lead before the Falcons tied it up 4-4.
In response, Baylor pulled ahead to a 6-4 lead from back-to-back kills. After a BGSU timeout, the Falcons put together a 4-1 stretch, nearly tying up the score at 7-8.
Baylor further extended their lead with a 5-0 run, the Bears on top 13-7. When the score reached 15-9, the Falcons called for their second timeout. Baylor came out of the timeout with the same strength as before, the score now 18-10.
After a 4-1 stretch by the Bears, Baylor held a 22-11 lead over the Falcons. Unable to close the gap, Baylor took the second set, with the match now tied up 1-1.
Set 3: 25-23 (Baylor)
The third set began with back-and-forth scoring until Baylor pulled into a 6-4 lead. Soon after, the Falcons were able to tie the score and top it with a 10-2 stretch. Thanks to four BGSU kills and an ace by Hannah Best, the Falcons held a 12-8 lead.
After taking a timeout, Baylor started to regroup but wasn’t able to fully close the gap until the set was tied up 16-16.
From here, back-and-forth scoring started again, tying it up at 17-17, 18-18, and so forth until the score reached 20-20. With back-to-back kills by Kyndal Stowers, Baylor grabbed a 22-20 lead, forcing a Falcon timeout.
After a 3-2 Bowling Green stretch, Baylor had the match point and a Falcon service error gave the Bears their second set of the match. Following a close third set, Baylor led the match 2-1.
Set 4: 25-18 (Baylor)
For the first time in the match, Bowling Green scored the first point in this set, made possible by an ace by Best. Baylor followed up with a 3-0 run to take an early 3-1 lead. Extending their lead, Baylor took another 3-0 run, the score now 6-3.
Baylor continued to hold the Falcons behind at least two points until BGSU tied up the set 12-12. The Bears pushed forward, logging a 3-0 run and holding a 15-12 lead.
Over the next five serves and a 4-2 stretch, the Falcons were able to tie the set again, this time at 17 points each. Baylor responded with a 3-0 run, now reaching the 20s.
With one late burst by the Bears, Baylor logged a 5-1 stretch and secured the final set and the match 3-1.
Junior Mia Tyler led the charge with 15 kills followed by Hovey who had 14. Hovey and Best led the charge with two aces each with Alex Laboy also logging one.
Jaden Walz logged 26 assists for the Falcons and also added three kills to the scoresheet.
On the defensive side, Mettille and Jessica Andrews led the way with four blocks each. Best also logged six digs and Laboy added 5 digs to the stat sheet.
Quickly looking at Baylor, Stowers had 20 kills and Averi Carlson logged an impressive 47 digs.
From here, the Falcons travel back to the Stroh for a series versus Michigan, playing on Friday night in Bowling Green and Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor. First serve on Friday, Sept. 15, is set for 7 p.m.
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