BGSU volleyball (5-5) took on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-10) in a Wednesday night matchup in the Stroh Center, where they won in three straight sets.
After starting the season with nine games on the road, the Falcons have returned home for a game. Taking on Oakland and showing how much they have grown as a team early in the season.
“I thought we got better tonight, that was our big focus. We talk every day about getting a little bit better, doesn’t matter whether it is in practice or in a match,” Head Coach Alex Delpiombo stated after the match.
Missing in action for Bowling Green was senior Lauryn Hovey, who missed just her second game of her collegiate career. Her first since 2022.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies got out of the gates with a quick couple of back-to-back service aces from Olivia Rust.
Bowling Green got on the board with back-to-back service aces of their own from sophomore Sydnie Hernandez.
The orange and brown go on a five-point run with kills from Amanda Otten, Avery Hobson, and a pair of service aces from Avery Anders, making the score 12-7.
After some back-and-forth play, the Falcons ended the first set the same way they got on the board to start the set, with a service ace from Kendall Williams, taking set one 25-17.
BGSU and Oakland started set number two with back-and-forth play, not allowing each other to grab a commanding lead.
The Falcons benefited from three straight Oakland attack errors, which broke the game wide open for BG.
Hobson got the Falcons offense back on the right track with two straight kills in the second set.
Marin Dunaway was able to get into a rhythm in the second set as she was able to land four of her ten total kills.
For Oakland Freshman Caroline Moore was able to match Dunaway’s kill numbers with four of her seven total in set number two.
The Falcons took set number two with a final score of 25-14.
Bowling Green roared out of the gates in set three, going on a 10-5 run. Started by a Dunaway kill and capped off by two straight Otten kills.
The Falcons would keep up the pressure and with a kill from Helen Wilford they would push the lead to seven.
After some more solid play by the Falcons and two kills in a row for Jessica Andrews, Bowling Green had the lead 19-8.
As BG got to set point, Oakland would dig deep and go on a three-to-zero run to make the final score of set three 25-18.
“I feel like we all want the best for each other, and everyone works their hardest for what is best for the team,” Hobson said postgame.
This win marks the third straight win for the Falcons and the first home win for Bowling Green this season, along with the first home win for first-year head coach DelPiombo.
“I don’t really celebrate it quite like it’s this huge milestone, it’s just more, did we get better as a program, did our team get better, did our players get better. I forget things like that,” DelPiombo said.
The Falcons are back in action on Friday, Sept. 19, as they travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take part in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, where they will face the Michigan State Spartans.
