BGSU volleyball (10-7) (4-1 MAC) falls short for their first MAC loss of the season, losing 3-1 to the Toledo Rockets in four sets at Savage Arena.
“There was some adversity throughout the match, and we need to learn how to get better from it,” said head coach Alex DelPiombo postgame.
As a rivalry game for the Orange and Brown, a loss tonight will take the program’s record to 61-19 versus the Midnight Blue and Gold.
Even with the defeat tonight, there’s plenty to learn for the Orange and Brown.
“It doesn’t really matter who’s across the net; it’s about what we are going to take from this,” DelPiombo said.
Bowling Green would finish the contest with 47 kills and three aces to 54 digs in the fourth set of action. Toledo would end up with 62 digs, eight aces, and 47 kills.
Even with the Falcons’ loss tonight versus a contested rival, there were positives and learning experiences with BG.
“We had our moments, but we just have to take what we learned and move forward,” said junior outside hitter Avery Hobson.
The match began with a kill for the Orange and Brown as the ball fell out of bounds, causing BG to score the first point. As the first set went on, BG had a 5-3 lead, which eventually was lost as the Rockets went on to lead 13-7.
A tough go for Bowling Green, as they would trail near the end of the set at 24-20. The Falcons clawed back, trailing from behind to make it a 24-23 match, yet would fall short due to a service error.
In a similar way to the first set, Bowling Green scored first in set number two as the Rockets tied it up. As the game proceeded, Bowling Green had a commanding 11-4 lead, forcing Toledo to call their first time-out of the set.
Going throughout the second set action, UT would trail BG by the largest deficit at that time during the game, a 20-12 score. While some momentum was found, it was too little too late for the Rockets, as Bowling Green would win the second set 25-17.
The third set of play at Savage Arena brought the first point of the set, where Toledo would score first off a kill by Toledo freshman outside hitter Jessica Costlow.
Later in the third set, Amanda Otten left the match due to a suspected injury, and the Falcons would use both of their timeouts.
Eventually, it would end on a Toledo Rockets block and would give Toledo their second set win of the night, the final being 25-18.
A tough fourth set for the Falcons, as they would use both timeouts again during the set, and also played the first set this season without Otten. Concluding the game by losing by nine points and finishing the game by losing the set by a score of 25-16.
The Falcons will return to MAC play to battle the Northern Illinois Huskies (10-4, 3-2 MAC) in a back-to-back series at the Stroh Center. Game one will be Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:00 p.m., with the same time on Oct. 10 for game two.
Falcon Media Sports Network will have full coverage of both nights on bgfalconmedia.com.
