In a rematch of last year’s Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship, Bowling Green volleyball (9-6, 4-0 MAC) secured a reverse sweep of the reigning champion Western Michigan Broncos (5-9, 1-2 MAC), winning three sets to two at the Stroh Center on Friday night.
With a Central Michigan loss on Friday, the Falcons are now the only undefeated team in the MAC, marking the fourth time in the past five seasons the Orange and Brown have started 4-0 or better in conference play.
“An exciting night; I told the team, ‘They need to be more careful about our heart health because this is a cardiac team,” BGSU head coach Danijela Tomic said in her postgame press conference.
Here’s how it went down:
First Set
The teams were evenly matched early in the first, with neither leading by more than two points.
The teams stood tied at 16-16 until two attack errors and a Western Michigan kill made it a 19-16 scoreboard.
Both sides traded points until the Broncos scored three straight points to take a 24-19 lead, ultimately winning the set 25-20.
Second Set
The momentum from the opening set worked in favor of the Broncos, who took four straight points after a 4-4 start to force a Falcon timeout. Coming out of the break, they extended the lead to five, but Bowling Green fought back within two points, 13-11; however, the Broncos never left off the gas, ultimately cruising to a 25-7 victory in the second set.
Third Set
Needing a strong start to avoid being swept in straight sets, the Falcons jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, with four points coming off Lindsey LaPinta serves.
With the score at 7-3, senior outside hitter Mia Tyler made her presence felt, notching two blocks and a kill to help stretch the Falcons’ lead to 11-3.
A five-point deficit of 22-17 was the closest the Broncos came within the third set, but it was all Bowling Green as the Falcons took care of business 25-19.
Fourth Set
The Falcons mirrored their third set start, cruising to an 8-2 lead.
The Broncos fell victim to several self-inflicted wounds, with nine errors compared to just one for the Orange and Brown.
Bowling Green ultimately took the set 25-17, propelling the match to the distance.
Fifth Set
The Falcons pulled ahead early, 3-1, but the Broncos soon evened the score at 5-5. After that point, it was all Bowling Green.
The Falcons scored on eight consecutive Avery Anders serves, with a Western Michigan service error, four kills from Lauryn Hovey, two kills from Alexis Mettille and one kill from Jordan Newblatt.
A Western Michigan kill broke the run of eight straight points; however, it proved too little too late, as the Broncos fell 15-7 in the final set.
Tomic spoke on the team’s resiliency, reflecting on five-set wins in three out of the Falcons’ last four matches
“We have the ability to dig deep and find ways to win. We’re also in really good shape, our team doesn’t look tired,” Tomic said. “We played our best volleyball in the 5th set.”
Notable Performances
With the score tied 14-14 in the first set, Hovey made history, notching her 115th career service ace, the most in Bowling Green history in the rally scoring era (2001-present).
Tyler led all players with 19 kills, the most by a Falcon this season. She had now led Bowling Green in kills in the past four matches.
Meanwhile, sophomore setter/right side Amanda Otten paced the field with 50 assists.
Additionally, Mettille tallied a match-leading seven assists, with LaPinta and Western Michigan’s Andelyn Simkins each notching a team-high 14 digs.
The Orange and Brown will return to the Stroh Center on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m., where they’ll look to complete the series sweep over the Broncos.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Chas McNeil and Ben Corak will have the call with pregame starting at 3:45 p.m. on WBGU, 88.1 FM.
