BGSU volleyball (8-6) looks to remain perfect in conference play in a rematch of last year’s Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Championship, taking on the Western Michigan Broncos (5-8).
The Orange and Brown return home for the first time since Sept. 20th and the stakes could not be higher.
Bowling Green is currently 3-0 in MAC play, including two five-set matches against Ball State and Toledo.
The Falcons will take on the Broncos in the Stroh Center on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Chas McNeil and Andrew Smith will have the call on Friday, while Ben Corak and McNeil will narrate the action on Saturday. Both broadcasts will air on WBGU 88.1 FM, beginning 15 minutes prior to first serve for pregame.
Matchup History
The Western Michigan Broncos hold a dominant lead against BG all-time with a record of 42-28-1 since the two began play in 1979.
Their most recent matchup was arguably the most explosive in the history of the teams, with Western Michigan winning the MAC Tournament in a heartbreaking five-set match for Bowling Green.
Both teams last faced off in the Stroh Center on Oct. 9th, 2022, with the Falcons sweeping the Broncos.
Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green is one of only two teams that have not yet lost a MAC game, joining Central Michigan at 3-0. So far, through games against Ball State and Toledo, the Orange and Brown have played two matches that stretched to five sets.
The Falcons are currently middle of the pack in the MAC offensively, ranking ninth in assists per set (10.75) and kills per set (11.84), sixth in points per set (16.00) and hitting percentage (.206), with their strongest set coming from service aces with BG ranking fifth in aces per set (1.69).
On the defensive, it seems like Bowling Green has hit their stride, ranking second in the MAC in blocks per set (2.47).
Scouting Western Michigan
The Broncos opened up MAC play in a home series against Buffalo, trading sweeps with the Bulls in a split of the series.
Offensively, Western Michigan tops the conference in kills per set (13.91) and assists per (13.11). They rank slightly lower in points, sitting third in points per set (16.49).
Defense for WMU is up and down, with the team ranking first in digs per set (17.38) but dead last in blocks per set (1.13), opponent assists per set (13.70), opponent kills per set (14.45) and opponent hitting percentage (.255).
Falcon Four Athletes to Watch
Amanda Otten (Bowling Green #11)
The sophomore setter is coming off of a massive game against Toledo, where she tallied 53 assists, which was a career-high.
The six-foot-three native of Batavia, Illinois, has played 44 sets this season, leading the team in assists with 350.
Alexis Mettille (Bowling Green #16)
The fifth-year middle blocker leads the entire MAC in hitting percentage (.417) with 93 kills from 180 total attempts.
The 6-foot-1-inch Canfield, Ohio, native has played in 51 sets, tallying (54.0) total blocks this year and (135.0) total points.
Andelyn Simkins (Western Michigan #3)
The fifth-year libero is the defensive heartbeat for the Broncos, recording 239 digs so far this season, which is good enough for her to sit second in the MAC, averaging (5.09) digs per set.
The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year has played in 47 sets and recorded 11 service aces with 15 service errors.
Logan Case (Western Michigan #12)
The reigning MAC Player of the Year was the key to success for WMU last season, and nothing has changed for 2024.
The fifth-year setter is dominating the MAC in assists with a conference-leading (11.51) per set which is a whole assist more than the second-place player (10.28).
