I told you.
I told you all not to panic about Bowling Green after last weekend’s adversity-filled tournament in Fort Collins.
Sure, maybe this week wasn’t exactly the peak of volleyball performance, but it was an undefeated week.
“Getting a win after three losses last week is nice,” said Danijela Tomic following Friday’s win over Michigan. “It doesn’t matter what conference, what team it is; this was definitively a big win.”
And not only was that win big, it was historic.
Bowling Green was able to take down the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines in five thrilling sets in front of not just a large crowd, but the largest student crowd in BGVB history (782).
‘This was unbelievable… to see first of all our Ziggyville packed, loud the whole time, from first point to the last point,” said Tomic. “Our band, the cheerleaders, dancers, and then everybody else in the stands; this is what I envisioned to make this place, this community- the best place to play collegiate volleyball in the country.”
To say the best is obviously a bit subjective, but no one could deny the enthusiasm that was brought by Falcon Fanatics for the team this weekend.
Not only was a Power Five opponent in town and a win along with it, but we also saw some of the “Best” volleyball out of a player that has really stepped up and played some impressive matches lately.
Enter Hannah Best.
“I’ve heard that since I was very, very young that you’re the best, but it’s always been that I’m going to be the best for my teammates,” said Best following Friday’s win. “I’ve done that, and now my time is coming; it feels great.”
I bet it does feel great, especially when you put up a career high in service aces (4).
To put it into perspective, you want to know how many aces Best had coming into 2023?
One.
But what helps in getting prepared for having career high-esque matches?
A good coaching staff.
“We have the best coaching staff in the MAC in volleyball,” said Best. “This week was a very hard week, and it was serving especially; they put us in situations and put MYSELF in situations to struggle behind the serving line and I knew when I was back there I had done the work and I was prepared and I was prepared to do it for my team.”
Folks, let me tell ya- she was not lying.
I got a first-hand look on Tuesday of how Tomic and the entire staff were all over the team this week; stopping after almost every play during live ball; coaching, preaching standards, lighting the fire in the belly of the orange and brown.
It certainly worked, especially on the road as well, where BGSU was able to sweep the home and home series against Michigan with another five set thriller earlier Sunday afternoon.
What made it satisfying for Falcon fans was not only getting back above .500, but also the fact that BG picked up their first true road win of the season, as well as this interesting nugget:
The last time BGSU Volleyball won twice against the Big Ten in a season? 1992, when the Falcons defeated Wisconsin in Madison on Sept. 12, and then defeated Minnesota at home on Dec. 6.
“We have the pieces to be a really extraordinary team; it’s just getting that consistency,” said Tomic. “It’s playing one point at a time, one point at a time, and it’s going to happen. We need time, we need experience going through these tough matches and tough opponents. This non-conference schedule was designed to really sharpen us and forge us and prepare us for the postseason and the MAC.”
Well folks, MACtion is now here, as Bowling Green opens conference play Thursday at home against Northern Illinois for a two-game series.
What are we going to see? Maybe some ups and downs, maybe some inconsistencies.
But one thing is for certain: we are going to see a team not afraid of the moment they are in.
Why? Because it’s not about the game, it’s about one point at a time.
For more information about the team and BGSU Athletics, follow Falcon Media Sports Network on X (@bg_fmsn).
