The Bowling Green State University volleyball team (5-6) fell to Ohio State (7-3) in three sets at the Covelli Center on Sunday afternoon, their second straight loss to the Buckeyes after dropping Friday’s match in front of a record 4,201 fans at the Stroh Center.
Ohio State was ready to go from the start, quickly jumping out to a 7-2 lead and forcing a BGSU timeout early in the first set.
Although junior middle blocker Jessica Andrews notched two kills in the first three points out of the timeout, Ohio State again put their foot on the pedal, extending their lead to 14-6 and forcing another timeout by BG head coach Danijela Tomic.
Bowling Green again came out of the timeout energized, going on a 3-0 run, capped by a kill off the powerful left hand of junior opposite hitter Lauryn Hovey.
However, OSU responded with a 3-0 burst of their own, ultimately cruising to a 25-16 first set victory.
The Buckeyes started the second set very similarly to the first — sprinting out to an early 6-1 advantage.
The Buckeyes continued their domination, extending the score to 15-8 heading into a media timeout.
Bowling Green then went on a 6-2 surge, cutting the deficit to just three points, 17-14.
However, Ohio State scored three unanswered points before using a timeout. The rest of the set was back-and-forth, but OSU came out on top in the end, 25-19, taking a controlling two-set lead.
For the first time in the match, BG held tight with the Buckeyes at the start of the third set, resulting in an early 4-4 tie. But Ohio State caught fire again, jumping out to a 10-5 lead and forcing a BGSU timeout.
Continuing a recurring theme of the match, Bowling Green came out of the timeout strong, scoring three of the following four points and cutting OSU’s lead to just three, 11-8.
After trading a few blows, Ohio State went on a 4-0 run, extending their lead to 17-10. After the Falcons responded with two points, attempting to kickstart a miracle comeback, the Buckeyes went on a 3-0 run, pushing their lead to 20-12 and forcing another Bowling Green timeout.
Ohio State once again eased their way to the win, clinching the set and match with a 25-15 victory.
Ohio State dominated, leading the Falcons in nearly every statistical category. OSU led in kills (42-23), hitting percentage (.283-.049), assists (41-21) and aces (8-4). The Buckeyes also had 14 errors compared to BGSU’s 18.
The only major statistical category Bowling Green led in was blocks (6-5).
Hovey led the Falcons with 10 kills and four blocks, matching her season-high in rejections. Sophomore setter/right side Amanda Otten led BG with nine assists, while graduate student defensive specialist Lindsey LaPinta led with nine digs.
Freshman setter Anna Sitek recorded the only solo block for the Falcons, the first of her collegiate career.
On the other side, graduate student Emily Londot, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, led the Buckeyes with 19 kills and recorded 14 digs for her fifth consecutive double-double.
Freshman Olivia Hasbrook led OSU with 16 digs, while sophomore Mia Tuman led with 33 assists.
Next, Bowling Green will stay on the road to begin Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, traveling to Muncie, Indiana, to battle Ball State on Friday, Sept. 27.
