I know that Bowling Green lost again in straight sets, but I am telling you- they looked and played much better.
But sometimes, when you run into a train going at full speed, it’s nearly impossible to stop it.
Well let’s just say that the W.M. Bronco locomotive is still chugging after last night.
Despite three closely contested sets, the Western Michigan Broncos were able to squeak out another straight set sweep over Bowling Green last night in Kalamazoo (25-22, 25-21, 25-23).
The Falcons (7-8) matched the Broncos (14-2) in many statistical categories, finishing the match tied for blocks (7), and points (54), while staying neck in neck in kills (44 BG, 46 WMU).
In set one, Bowling Green started off the match by going back and forth with Western, trading points until midway through the set, when the Broncos went on a 4-0 run to give themselves a 13-8 lead.
Despite multiple attempts, including getting the score to be within one at 22-21, Western did enough by ending the set with a 3-1 run to take it.
In set two, it was BG who got off to the quick 9-5 lead, but the Broncos ended the set on a 7-1 run to take it 25-21, despite BG leading it for the vast majority.
That set loss really seemed to seal the fate of the Falcons, but not without a fight.
Set three was a classic back and forth between the two teams, with both teams going on mini scoring runs all throughout.
With Bowling Green trailing 22-19, the Falcons put together a 4-1 run to tie things up at 23 apiece. But the night dictated it’s own terms, and the Broncos ended the match with a kill and an attack error from Hannah Best.
For Bowling Green, Mia Tyler led the way once again in kills with 11, while Best added nine, Jessica Andrews with eight, and Lauryn Hovey with seven.
Gwen Crull recorded her career high in kills as well with five, while for Hovey, her 13 assists in the stat sheet matched her season-high.
Amanda Otten, who played the entire match primarily in a split role between right back and setter, ended the night with 20 assists to go along with a pair of kills and four blocks. Senior libero Alex Laboy anchored the back row with 13 digs.
Meanwhile for WMU, sophomore middle blocker Mary Clare Brusek led the offensive attack with 14 kills, while senior outside hitter Maggie King added in a dozen.
Star senior setter Logan Case paced the transition game for the Broncos with 37 assists.
BGSU looks to pick up the pieces from this road trip, which now leaves the Falcons having lost nine of their last 11 sets, on Friday back at the Stroh Center, when they face the Toledo Rockets in the “Battle of I-75”.
Join Steve Iwanek on the call on 88.1 FM WBGU at 5:45 p.m., with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m.
For more stories related to BGSU Athletics, follow Falcon Media Sports Network on X (@bg_fmsn).
