The biggest storyline of the week for BGSU volleyball should not be the loss of junior setter Amanda Otten to injury in the Oct. 7 Toledo match or simply the Falcons’ continuing play without the All-MAC First Team setter or their 2024 All-American and MAC Player of the Year Lauryn Hovey.
The story, however, should be the winning; two wins this week and a 6-1 record in MAC play, a better record through seven MAC matches than in 2024, and all with changes to three all-MAC level players.
Before their weekend series, their first of two mid-week rivalry matchups against Toledo, a match whose complexion changes to a Rocket runaway after Amanda Otten’s injury in the third set. Head coach Alex DelPiombo and the Falcons then responded by sweeping Northern Illinois at home on the weekend for their fifth and sixth MAC wins.
“I think our team responded to some of the hard really well and matured [tonight],” said DelPiombo after the second match. “We got through some hard things and still found ways to get out of it, keep our cool, and find a way to win.”
A major testament to the depth of talent, Bowling Green is 8-2 overall without Hovey in the lineup, having played every MAC match without her. They are also 2-0 without Otten, who is arguably the most versatile player on the team and the heart of the offense. Both wins came against a very talented NIU team that started hot through non-conference and early MAC play.
Even aside from injuries, 2024 All-MAC Second Team middle blocker Jessica Andrews is continuing to play and grow more comfortable in her new, out-of-position role. The six-foot-four senior has manned the right side every game during the absence of Hovey, coming from the 2025 World Championships with Team Canada, as well as three other BGSU seasons as a staple middle blocker.
Andrews won the MAC Offensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 6 following a 24 kill, four error, and 42 total attack performance against Eastern and Central Michigan. In three games this past week, the Guelph, Ontario native scored 35 kills, 11 errors, and 69 total attacks. Subtracting the Toledo match, Andrews tallied 24 kills, four errors, and 41 total attacks. Of course, while playing out of position.
Who else has played well in recent wins? It is more difficult to find players who haven’t played well. Junior outside hitter Avery Hobson and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Edyta Waclawczyk have joined Andrews in a three-headed monster of BG scoring. They have all three scored 10+ kills in each of BG’s last three matches.
Look no further than sophomore lockdown defensive specialists Sydnie Hernandez and Avery Anders for some of the best defensive play of the last few seasons for BG. Hernandez, BG’s libero, has recorded 43 digs and only one reception error, Anders digging 24 times and accepting only four reception errors.
They, along with a strong Bowling Green blocking game, have allowed the fewest kills of any MAC team in conference play. Again, group efforts offensively and defensively with Hovey and Otten.
“We spend a lot of time together. We spend a lot of time on Unity, and most importantly, our whole team is all in on Bowling Green volleyball. They’re all in on this program,” said DelPiombo. “When you have that kind of attitude throughout the whole team, the culture creates itself. It creates an atmosphere that I’m willing to do whatever it takes for the team.”
BG continues to play, and more importantly, win, without two stars and with another out of position. While it’s not the way DelPiombo would choose to do it, wins are wins, and the Falcons sit better than all but one MAC team in the standings. That one team, 7-0 Ball State, is their opponent this coming week at home.
MAC kills and points leader Carson Tyler and the Cardinals come into town for matches on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Andrew Smith will have the broadcasts on WBGU 88.1 FM.
