When you are able to put together your most complete offensive and defensive performance of the season at a critical stage of the year, you can go to sleep happy.
That is exactly what Bowling Green Volleyball did tonight en route to a straight set sweep over the Akron Zips at James A. Rhodes Arena earlier Friday evening (25-17, 25-17, 25-17).
The Falcons (13-12 OVR, 7-7 MAC) came into the contest tied with the Zips (11-14 OVR, 6-8 MAC) at 6-7 in MAC play, and with four teams tied at 6-7 heading into Friday (BGSU, Akron, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois), this series was pivotal for both teams.
BG though got the first laugh.
Once again, the trio of Kat Mandly, Mia Tyler and Lauryn Hovey each recorded double-digit kills each. So far this year, every game this year that those three have done so, the Falcons are undefeated.
Mandly registered her season-high in kills with 18, just one shy of matching her career-high. Hovey added 13 and Tyler added 12 in the winning effort.
But even during the moment of success for BG, some more adversity reared it’s ugly head, as Tyler, late in the third set, had to leave the match with a lower body injury.
Setter Jaden Walz finished just one dig shy of her ninth double-double of the season, ending the contest with 38 assists and nine digs. Walz also added four blocks, with her last one being the 75th point of the night for the orange and brown.
A big point of emphasis for the coaching staff was the play of the back row defense, as Akron came into the contest leading the MAC in aces/set (2.03), and were ranked top ten nationally with that stat.
But tonight, despite giving up four aces, the Falcon back row played arguably their best collective game of the year, ending the night +21 in digs (52-31).
Alex Laboy led the way in digs with 17, followed by Lindsey LaPinta, who added 10.
Meanwhile for the Zips, the frustrations just were unable to be overcome, as they finished as a team below 10% in hitting percentage (7.5%).
Faith Johnson and Ellen Kinnaird led the way with seven kills apiece. Freshman setter Eliska Vytiskova led the way in assists with 24.
With the win, as well as a Central Michigan straight set win over Kent State, the Falcons and Chippewas are tied at 7-7 in MAC play, while the Zips and Huskies, who fell in four sets to Toledo, fall to 6-8.
Bowling Green now looks for a confidence-boosting win tomorrow to complete the weekend sweep, as they face the Zips once again on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Join Falcon Media Sports Network’s Steve Iwanek on 88.1 FM WBGU starting at 3:45 p.m. for the pregame show.
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