BGSU Volleyball (12-8, 7-2) topped the Akron Zips (8-13, 4-5) on their home court, sweeping them 3-0. This was the tenth straight win against the Zips for the Orange and Brown.
Here’s how it happened.
Set One: Bowling Green 30, Akron 28
The Zips came out hot to start the match with a 6-1 lead. BG began to climb back into it with kills from junior opposite hitter Lauren Hovey and fifth-year middle blocker Alexis Mettille, making the score 9-5.
After Akron extended their lead again, freshman defensive specialist Sydnie Hernandez of the Falcons got BG right back into the set with back-to-back aces.
After trading a few points, the Zips again looked as if they would pull away until senior outside hitter Mia Tyler and fifth-year outside hitter Jordan Newblatt grabbed key kills to shorten the lead again to 15-12 in favor of Akron.
The Zips then went on another 4-1 run, which led BG head coach Danijela Tomic to use her second timeout.
Bowling Green went on a run of their own, cutting the lead to 19-16, forcing an Akron timeout. Despite the attempt to stop the Falcons’s momentum, they continued their run, stretching it to 7-1 and tying the game at 20.
After the tie, Akron spent their second timeout, and coming out of it, the two teams went back and forth.
This back and forth continued until the score was 28-27 in favor of the Zips with them at set point. Bowling Green responded with a 3-0 run that won them the set.
On the back end of the set, the Falcons started to find their spots on both their hits and serves, forcing Akron to make mistakes.
Set Two: Bowling Green 26, Akron 24
The Falcons jumped out to an early set lead of 5-2 thanks to strong blocking by junior middle blocker Jessica Andrews and Hovey, as well as great hustle from the back row players in freshman defensive specialist Avery Anders and Hernandez.
Akron then went on a 4-0 run to take the lead, but after a strong kill from Andrews, the score was knotted back up at 6-6.
Hernandez then had her third ace of the match, but Akron tied it once again.
After a BGSU 4-0 run, the Zips called a timeout, and the Falcons added another point to the run, making the score 12-8.
Both teams went on a few runs of 3-0 before they found themselves tied up at 18 apiece. Akron then moved ahead of BG with a score of 20-19.
Bowling Green then took a timeout, and the score stayed tied until 24-24, forcing extra points again. However, these extras didn’t last nearly as long, with BG getting back-to-back points off a strong swing from Hovey and a hitting error by the Zips.
Set Three: Bowling Green 25, Akron 18
Akron again jumped to an early set lead of 4-1, but the Falcons clawed their way back to 5-4, still in favor of the Zips. UA then extended their lead to 9-5 with a 4-1 run of their own.
The Falcons continued to fight back like they have all season, earning themselves a 5-1 run. The teams then traded service errors, and the score was 13-12.
After the Zips service error, the Falcons found their footing and took the lead at 14-13. The game then ended up tied at 15-15.
Kills from Newblatt and Tyler then changed the score to 17-15, but Akron fought back and tied it back up at 17 all.
The Falcons then grabbed another two points and forced an Akron timeout. Following the timeout, the Falcons extended their run to 7-0. Akron, having spent their two timeouts already, couldn’t stop the Orange and Brown momentum.
Bowling Green led 24-17, and after a Zips point, the Falcons brought out the brooms and won the final set 25-18 with a 3-0 victory.
Falcon Stat Leaders:
Kills: Lauryn Hovey, Mia Tyler (12)
Assists: Amanda Otten (39)
Digs: Lindsey LaPinta (19)
Aces: Sydnie Hernandez (3)
Blocks: Amanda Otten (6)
Key Takeaways:
The Zips may now have a record of 4-5 in the conference, but they are not to be underestimated. Their team chemistry, especially on offense, is immense, and they have a strong will to hang in sets with the strongest teams in the MAC.
Hovey’s 12 kills in this game put her in the BG top ten career kill leaders in the rally-scoring era with 1,049.
Andrews also moved up in the rally-scoring era list, but instead for blocking. She finds herself eighth on the Falcon list with 250 blocks, five of them coming from this game.
Otten and the rest of the Falcons are learning to spread the offense. They had five players with six or more kills against UA on Friday.
Bowling Green is back to the Stroh Center after two games on the road. They’ll face the Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 26 for a 5 p.m. first serve.
