After winning the MAC Regular Season Championship, BSGU’s head coach, Danijela Tomic, and junior opposite hitter Lauryn Hovey received yearly honors. Tomic received the Coach of the Year award, while Hovey received the Player of the Year award. Additionally, five Falcons earned All-MAC honors.
Tomic won her third MAC Coach of the Year award (2017, 2020-21, 2024) in her 13th year with Bowling Green.
The Falcons achieved a 21-8 overall record with a 16-2 MAC record in 2024, tied for her fourth-highest win total overall and her second-best MAC record.
She coached the Falcons to a five and 11-game win streak this season, with only two losses to Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in five sets back-to-back. Tomic also coached three players to first-time all-MAC honors and Hovey to a Player of the Year award, the fifth of her coaching career.
“Being named MAC Coach of the Year is an incredible honor,” said Tomic. “But this recognition belongs to our entire coaching staff and team. Our staff’s ability to collaborate, innovate, and constantly push each other to be better has been the foundation of our sustained success.”
Tomic is up to 232 overall and 155 MAC wins, six regular season and three tournament MAC championships in her 13-year career.
Hovey is the MAC Player of the Year in 2024, the first of her career, while also being named to the all-MAC first team three times in three years. The junior finished with 1-6 sets played, 357 kills (3.37 per set), 48 aces (.45 per set), three solo blocks, 76 blocking assists (.75 total blocks per set), and 446 points (4.21 per set), while also being second on the team in digs per set with 2.54.
“Lauryn’s dedication to her craft,” said Tomic. “Consistently delivering clutch performances and ability to make everyone around her better have been key to our success.”
Fifth-year middle blocker Alexis Mettille and sophomore setter Amanda Otten received all-MAC First Team with Hovey. Mettille currently paces all MAC players and is sixth in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.439), 200 kills to only 34 errors, with 29 aces and 117 total blocks on the season. Otten finished the regular season second in assists per set (9.37) with 928 total assists. She also earned 95 kills, 22 aces, 193 digs and 72 total blocks for 157 points, the most for a setter in the MAC.
Fellow Falcons Jessica Andrews and Mia Tyler received all-MAC Second Team honors for their contributions to the MAC Regular Season Championship this season. A middle blocker, Andrews was arguably the best defensive player for BG, with a team-leading 16 solo blocks, 111 blocking assists, and 127 total blocks. Tyler was one of the better offensive players for the Falcons as an outside hitter, second in points with 314.5 and kills with 290.
