The Bowling Green State University volleyball team (5-5) fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3) in four sets, surrounded by a program and Mid-American Conference (MAC) record-breaking crowd of 4,201 rowdy fans at the Stroh Center on Friday evening.
The attendance, the largest in the conference’s history dating back to 2011 via available records, broke the program’s record of 2,961 and the previous MAC record of 4,184, set by Ohio 13 years ago.
“What an unbelievable atmosphere here at the Stroh Center; thank you to everybody who worked so hard to make this night happen,” BGSU head coach Danijela Tomic said postgame. I just want to thank each and every one of these fans who came today and made this night unforgettable…We showed that volleyball is a sport that’s thriving in this country. To see two great teams from the state of Ohio compete like we did and Ohio State did was a beautiful sight.”
The first set started as a struggle for the Falcons, with the Buckeyes taking an early 7-2 lead to start the match.
However, this did not shake the confidence of the Falcons, as BG battled back with a 5-0 run, which included two aces by junior opposite hitter Lauryn Hovey, evening the score at seven apiece.
Ohio State would regain momentum, taking a 15-12 lead at the first media timeout.
The Buckeyes stayed hot out of the timeout, extending their lead to 18-14, forcing Tomic to call for a break in the action.
While Tomic used another timeout down 23-21 to try and stop the bleeding and get back into the set, OSU closed out the set with a 25-22 score.
Bowling Green came out with a vengeance at the start of the second set, sprinting to a 9-1 lead. The exclamation point of the run for the Falcons was a powerful kill from sophomore setter Amanda Otten, which forced the Buckeyes to call an early timeout.
Instead of rolling over, Ohio State chipped away at the lead before utilizing a 3-0 run to force a BG timeout to bring the deficit to just four, 11-7.
After the break, the Buckeyes forced eight ties in the set as the Falcons emerged from the back-and-forth battle with a late 24-23.
The Falcons won the set 25-23 after a statement Hovey kill that wound up in the crowd, evening the match.
Although the third set started like the previous ended, with constant back-and-forth action, the Buckeyes slipped out to a 9-5, forcing a BG timeout.
The Falcons would respond with a 6-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back blocks by Hovey and junior middle blocker Jessica Andrews, evening the score at 12 apiece.
Although competitive action would continue throughout the remainder of the set, with BGSU tying the score at 18 apiece, OSU ended on a 5-0 run, taking the third set, 25-20.
The fourth set started with both teams again going back and forth offensively.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Edyta Waclawczyk made two powerful blocks early to give the Falcons some confidence and momentum with an 8-4 lead.
Ohio State responded again, battling to tie the score at nine apiece.
The teams continued to trade points over the next few minutes, with Bowling Green taking a one-point lead into the media timeout, 15-14.
While the set saw ties at 16, 17 and 18 points apiece, OSU went on a 3-0 burst to take a 20-18 lead.
Although Bowling Green showed no fight and fought back-and-forth until the end, Ohio State was ultimately too much on the record-setting night, winning the final set 25-21 to take the victory.
Bowling Green recorded 11 total blocks, including five solo blocks, the most since they tallied seven against Ohio State on Aug. 26 last year.
Andrews recorded one of the five solo blocks, bringing her career total to 34 and moving into a tie with Shari Luther (2007-09) for the ninth-most in the program’s rally scoring era.
The Falcons tallied seven aces, the most in a four-set match this season.
Hovey landed a team-high three aces, moving her career total to 110, good for sole possession of second place in program history during the rally scoring era and 10th all-time. She needs just four more to tie Paige Penrod for the next spot on both lists.
Hovey also added six kills, a season-high three assists and a career-high and team-leading 14 digs.
Meanwhile, fifth-year middle blocker Alexis Mettille led the orange and brown with nine kills and added a career-high seven digs.
Waclawczyk made her impact known off the bench, recording a career-high six kills and 20 attacks while tallying her first two solo blocks, assist and dig of her collegiate career.
Freshman setter Anna Sitek also had a noteworthy performance, leading Bowling Green with 15 assists.
Ohio State’s Grace Egan, Emily Londot and Rylee Rader recorded double-digit kills with 17, 16 and 11, respectively.
Meanwhile, sophomore Mia Tuman dominated, leading the Buckeyes with 47 assists and 19 digs.
Next, the Falcons head to the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, hoping to get revenge against the Buckeyes.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Chas McNeil will have the call on WBGU 88.1 FM, beginning at 12:45 for pregame and 1 p.m. for first serve.
