Last season, BGSU volleyball became known for their impressive front row play, leading the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in blocks, placing second in hitting percentage and scoring the second most service aces.
The offense only grew stronger as the season progressed, with Amanda Otten continually improving her setting game and more hitters becoming involved, utilizing various attacks.
After the 2024 season ended, former head coach Danijela Tomic left, with Alex DelPiombo and her new coaching staff, including assistant coaches Chelsi Carter and Alexa Wharton, fitted themselves nicely into their roles.
However, it remained to be seen how the team would perform on the court. The Orange and Brown faced off against Youngstown State on Aug. 23 in an exhibition match that showcased the Falcons’ strengths, a few new faces and the skills they need to improve.
Bowling Green’s offense started slow but got hot quickly, with senior right side Lauryn Hovey and Otten picking up right where they left off in 2024.
Otten looked much more comfortable being a leader on the court and had improved confidence in her setting, not settling for the easy option in situations she would have in the past.
This newfound conviction in the Falcon setter allows the 5-1 offense of the Falcons to have four or even five attackers at all times, with the back row attack being a significant factor in the offense.
[Back row attacking] is a piece of the game,” said DelPiombo. “If we’re gonna run a 5-1 with two outside hitters in the back row, we potentially have five attackers at all times, and so why not?
Redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Edyta Waclawczyk and Hovey were the main benefactors from Otten’s backrow sets, with both looking very practiced hitting from behind the ten-foot line.
Hovey continues to be Bowling Green’s best offensive weapon, tallying 21 kills on a .485 hitting percentage. The right side hitter looks more impressive than last season due to the extra open lanes the backrow attacking has opened up.
Waclawczyk played her best statistical game to date in the scrimmage with 14 kills on 24 total attacks for a hitting percentage of .345. In addition, she tallied 14 digs and three total blocks, giving her a double-double on the day.
The polish falcon struggled in 2024 with confidence in her play, but it seems in 2025 she has regained faith in herself and the results speak for themselves.
The line shots she attempted last year are landing much more consistently, and Waclawczyk has learned to wipe blocks that she can’t find a way around.
Sophomore libero Sydnie Hernandez also looks to have more poise this year, taking initiative as the leader of the back row in her brand new position.
Hernandez’s emergency setting was also outstanding, consistently giving the wing spikers a high, well placed ball.
The fresh faces in the Falcon lineup also played well on Saturday, showing promise for what is to come the rest of the season.
Junior outside hitter Avery Hobson had 13 kills to go along with 19 digs, four aces and two blocking assists, showing off her ability to do whatever is asked of her on the court.
Hobson seems to be an excellent addition to the BG lineup. She has a strong line attack like Waclawczyk but does not seem able to hit over the block or wipe it as often.
She makes up for this by finding holes in the defense. Whether that meant finding the back corner or using a cross to hit between defenders.
“Really happy with our offensive performance,” DelPiombo stated following the match. “[But] we have some errors to clean up here and there.”
The new head coach was also pleased with how her two middle blockers, freshman Kendall Williams and redshirt-sophomore Helen Wilford, played. The two combined for seven kills and three blocks.
Both Williams and Wilford will need to continue to work on their timing with Otten while hitting, but overall they played well and picked up their blocking in the later sets.
The coaching staff also looks to be incorporating different tempos into the offense. Throughout the game against Youngstown the middles had a faster approach while also mixing in slower paces as well.
The outside and right side hitters also received a few quicks from Otten, who controlled these newfound tempos remarkably well on the court, communicating with each hitter.
Despite all the positives and the offensive strength, not to mention without senior middle blocker Jessica Andrews, who is still in Thailand representing team Canada, there are still areas of improvement that need to be emphasized.
At multiple points during the game, especially during the first set, the Orange and Brown fell to the Penguins serves.
Float serves in particular gave the Falcons fits, and caused them to drop the first set to the young Youngstown squad.
Blocking also was soft during the early sets of the match, and although it improved as the sets went on, the absence of Andrews will absolutely be felt early this season.
There is far more good than bad, but the defensive mistakes will cost BGSU if they are not cleaned up. That being said the mistakes are fixable, and the offense is so powerful when it’s clicking that the Falcons might simply overwhelm some teams with their attacks.
This team is one that has lost important players and most of its coaching staff, but has an impressive amount of potential.
“I love going into a season feeling like we’re not even close to our potential,” DelPiombo said. “I felt like that the whole match today [Aug. 23].”
The Falcons now turn to the NDSU/UND Tournament, starting on Aug. 29, where they will take on Temple, North Dakota State and St. Mary’s in the squad’s first matches of the season.
