NOTE: Due to an unexpected power outage at our hotel, we were unable to publish this story last night. We apologize for any inconvenience.
While I was watching last night’s match between Bowling Green and Western Michigan, I was left saying one thing about the Broncos.
Wow.
The gold and brown utilized a .271 hitting percentage, as well as 36 assists from star senior setter Logan Case, to power past the orange and brown in straight sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-19).
Starting in set one, the Broncos got off to a fast start, opening the match with a 5-0 run before BG was forced to take a timeout.
From there, BG played much better, stringing together some mini runs to make the score 11-9 in favor of WMU.
However, errors were a huge factor in the set and the overall match, as BG committed five attack errors and six service errors in set one, compared to seven total for the Broncos, which ultimately made a statistical difference in the set.
In set two, it was Bowling Green who got off the fast start, opening the set by going up 3-0. However, a 6-0 run in response by WMU caused BG to have to once again take an early timeout.
This set though was by far the most competitive, as BG at one point held a lead midway through it (13-12), but the Broncos put together multiple runs to ice away a valiant effort from the Falcons.
In set three, it felt as if the wind was let out of the sails of the orange and brown, as Western Michigan built up a comfortable 15-6 lead midway through the set.
BG did try to fight at the end, going on a 6-1 run and cutting things to 22-18, but the late surge was not enough as the Broncos ended the match with a 25-19 set win.
Maggie King finished as the kills leader for the gold and brown with 13, while fellow outside hitter Anna Calcagno added in a dozen in the winning effort.
For Case, she kept her historic pace going, as she is now sitting at 4,291 career assists, just 211 assists away from becoming the all-time leader for the Broncos.
Meanwhile for the orange and brown, Mia Tyler led the way in kills with 10. Lauryn Hovey added eight, Hannah Best off the bench had seven, and Jessica Andrews pitched in six.
For Hovey, her eight kills got her to reach the 500 mark of her young collegiate career.
Amanda Otten ended the night with a well-rounded performance of five kills, 21 assists, eight digs and three blocks. Alex Laboy, who returned to the floor after missing all of last week with an illness, led the way in digs with 14.
BG (7-7) looks to avoid falling under .500 for the second time this season as they face WMU tonight at 6 p.m. from Read Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo.
Be sure to tune in to 88.1 FM WBGU starting at 5:45, as Steve Iwanek has the call from Kalamazoo.
For more stories related to BGSU Athletics, follow Falcon Media Sports Network on X (@bg_fmsn).
