This weekend, Bowling Green hosts the 2-5 Michigan Wolverines out of the Big Ten at the Stroh for the first time since 1989 on Friday, Sept. 15., at 7 p.m. Following that, the team then travels to Ann Arbor to finish the home and home series on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know going into the series.
History:
Friday marks the third time Bowling Green has faced Michigan during the regular season since the early 2000s. Last season, the Falcons traveled to Ann Arbor and fell to the Wolverines in three sets.
Eyes on the Falcons:
Through three weeks, freshman Amanda Otten has put on an impressive campaign. Through nine matches, she has logged two triple-doubles, which came against Colorado State and Pacific.
Another Falcon to look out for is sophomore outside hitter Lauryn Hovey, who is currently leading the team with 104 kills on the season.
Just behind Hovey in the kills category is junior outside hitter Mia Tyler, the kill-leader in the last match versus No. 14 Baylor, who so far has logged 91 kills this season.
One more stat leader to watch this weekend is recent MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, Alex Laboy. Laboy has logged 112 digs this season and 400 over the span of her career.
Looking at the Wolverines:
The Maize and Blue just closed a home-opening weekend with Duke and North Carolina, sweeping North Carolina and falling to 7-2 Duke in four sets. Junior Jacque Boney leads the Wolverine’s offense with 66 kills and senior Scottee Johnson holds the season record for assists with 187 and has logged 2,121 in her career.
The Wolverines hold a 2-5 record on the season, but also leads the Big Ten in both digs and attacks per set.
Inside the Minds:
Looking for what could be the program’s first win versus the Wolverines in over 20 years, the Falcons are looking to regroup from their weekend series out west, where they failed to pick up a win at the Colorado State Tournament out in Fort Collins.
Earlier this week, Falcon Media Sports Network’s Steve Iwanek sat down with Laboy to talk about this coming series, where she emphasized the importance of mastering the elements you can control and continuing to work on all the little details.
“We’re working on creating more team defense, digging more, and focusing on who we are as a team,” Laboy said. “I think we’re more preparing for what we can control, so focusing on our team defense, creating more opportunities for ourselves, digging more balls, and just focusing on who we are as a team. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side of the net.”
To watch this week’s episode of “Diggin’ Deep” with BGSU Volleyball, click below:
First serve on Friday night starts at 7 p.m. Be sure to tune in to 88.1 FM WBGU with Steve Iwanek, who has the call beginning at 6:45.
For more information about the Falcons, be sure to follow Falcon Media Sports Network on X (@bg_fmsn).
