Last week, the Falcons swept their opponents in both games, putting themselves back on top of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with a 7-2 conference record and a 12-8 overall record.
Bowling Green looked very impressive in both matches, especially in their win over Buffalo. The offense looks much more fluid than earlier in the season, and the Falcon’s blocking has stayed strong.
Oppositely, Kent State has yet to win a game in the MAC this season, falling to the Ohio Bobcats on Tuesday. The Golden Flashes are 0-9 in conference play and 1-18 overall.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Chas McNeil and Andrew Smith will be on the call starting at 5:45 p.m. on WBGU 88.1 FM for Friday’s game, with McNeil back on the call Saturday, this time with Foster Roesti at 4:45 p.m.
Matchup History
The Falcons have dominated this matchup, leading 67-24 against the Golden Flashes, especially when playing at home. BGSU is 36-9 when playing Kent State at home and 26-14 while on the road.
Kent State has only won one game at the Stroh Center and is 1-12 since it became the Falcons home court in 2011. Bowling Green also has an eight-game win streak against the Golden Flashes.
The last game between these two teams was on Oct. 21, resulting in Kent getting swept by the Falcons at the Stroh Center.
Bowling Green Scouting Report
In their last matchup against the Akron Zips, the Orange and Brown played a very team-oriented game. The Falcons had two kill leaders in junior opposite hitter Lauryn Hovey and senior outside hitter Mia Tyler, who had 12 kills each.
Sophomore setter Amanda Otten also had herself a game, with 39 assists and a career-high six blocks in the win on the Zips’ home floor.
The Falcons will enter this two-game series leading the MAC in blocks per set with 2.64 and third place in hitting percentage at .225.
Kent State Scouting Report
The Golden Flashes are on the struggle bus right now as they sit in last place in the Mid-American Conference standings.
The Kent State offense is the worst in the MAC. They’re last in points, kills, assists, and hitting percentage, as well as second to last in service aces.
On defense, the Flashes allow the most kills, assists, and aces than any other team in the MAC. They are, however, seventh in blocks per set (2.03) and fourth in digs per set (14.77).
Four Players to Watch
Jessica Andrews (Bowling Green #7)
The junior middle blocker has been putting in great work for the Falcons. She has no hitting or blocking errors in the past two games. Last game versus Akron, she had eight kills on a .571 hitting percentage.
She also tallied five blocks for the Orange and Brown last match. Andrews is one of the best blockers in the MAC, with 94 blocks so far this season.
Lauryn Hovey (Bowling Green #14)
The junior opposite hitter had 12 kills on 27 total attacks for a .296 hitting percentage last game against the Zips. She should be able to take advantage of the open-line shots that the Kent State block allows.
Hovey serves as a Canadian army knife for the Falcons. In addition to leading both squads in kills last game, she also had nine digs, an ace, two blocks, and two assists.
Anna Shoemake (Kent State #12)
The senior opposite hitter had her season high in kills with 17 last week when the Golden Flashes faced Miami. Being the opposite hitter, she has the responsibility of blocking the opponent’s outside attacks, and she plays this role well.
Last game she had five blocks against OU, and she might be the best blocker on the team, despite not being a middle blocker.
Mackenzie McGuire (Kent State #11)
The junior outside hitter doesn’t block as well as some of her teammates, but her strong swing makes up for it. McGuire had 14 kills in the Flashes last outing.
She’s no slouch in the back row either, reaching nine digs against the Bobcats, nearly a double-double for the match.
