An apparent injury to junior setter Amanda Otten overshadowed the result as BGSU volleyball (10-7, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) lost to their rival Toledo Rockets (14-3, 5-0 conference) in four sets at the Rockets’ home Savage Arena.
The Rockets took the first set by a margin of 25-23, but the Falcons went unfazed into the second set, cruising to a 25-19 victory.
The teams contended evenly in the third set, with the Falcons only trailing 7-6, when Otten came down hard and lingered on the floor. Otten was helped up by trainers, unable to put weight on her left leg. She was able to return to the bench area with ice on her left knee shortly after, but the Falcons had quickly fallen behind and eventually dropped the set 25-18.
In the fourth set, the Orange and Brown appeared simply outmatched. The Rockets jumped to an early 4-0 lead, and the BG deficit was never less than two, as the Rockets clinched the match with a commanding 25-14.
Otten’s injury only compounds the health woes for the Falcons, who have already been playing without defending MAC Player of the Year Lauryn Hovey since their loss to Michigan State on Sept. 19. Bowling Green hasn’t given a timetable regarding the return of Otten or Hovey.
”We’re still evaluating, we’ll find out when we get back and get with our doctors,” said head coach Alex DelPiombo regarding Otten’s injury.
For any time Otten has to miss, BG will look to sophomore Anna Sitek, who has the fewest matches and sets played in for the Falcons this year, to take up the role of primary setter.
Despite this, the Falcons have belief in Sitek’s abilities and their abilities as a team.
“I feel like we have Anna’s back and know how to play as a team,” said junior Avery Hobson. “We need to just keep doing that.”
The potential loss of Otten spells significant trouble for the Falcons. Going into the match against Toledo, she ranked highly in many categories for the Falcons, including first in assists, third in service aces, third in blocks, and second in digs.
The loss for the Falcons marks their first conference loss of the year, as well as their first loss on the season in the absence of Hovey.
The Falcons will hope for a quick rebound, as they continue their conference slate against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Stroh Center.
