BGSU volleyball (9-6, 3-0 MAC) defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-8, 0-3 MAC) in Ypsilanti on Friday, 3-2.
It was a thrilling back-and-forth match. BG took the first set, but the Eagles won sets two and three. In a must-win fourth set, the Falcons pulled through, 25-15; they then emerged victorious from the winner-take-all final set.
The Falcons logged 63 kills on the day, to EMU’s 49; they also bested Eastern in points, 81 to 64.
The Orange and Brown led the day with a balanced offensive attack. Three players – senior middle blocker Jessica Andrews, sophomore outside hitter Edyta Waclawczyk, and junior outside hitter Avery Hobson – led the team in kills, with 16 each.
The Eagles had a more top-heavy offensive approach, with junior outside hitter Ava Siefke’s 22 kills far outstripping those of sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker, who finished the day with seven.
Everyone who played for BG played in all five sets.
The Falcons own the record in competition against the Eagles, with 42 wins and 30 losses since the programs first faced off in 1977. Notably, the Falcons are 8-2 in their last ten matchups with Eastern, dating back to October of 2019.
Fortunately for the BG team, they now move to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play and have won 12 consecutive road MAC games in the regular season, dating back to 2023. Hobson posted a double-double, with 13 digs. Junior setter Amanda Otten had 48 assists and 15 digs.
The fifth set was the closest, ending in a 15-13 score. Hobson secured the final kill to win the game.
The Falcons will be back in action against Central Michigan at Mount Pleasant on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
They will finish their road trip against Toledo in the Battle of I-75 on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., before returning to the Stroh to take on the NIU Huskies on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:00 p.m.
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