BGSU volleyball (12-9, 6-3 MAC) hosted the Ball State Cardinals (13-8, 9-0) at the Stroh Center on Friday, losing 3-0.
Senior opposite Lauryn Hovey entered her second match back in the lineup after coming back from an injury. Junior setter Amanda Otten, still dealing with a banged-up knee, was out.
Ball State drew first blood, but senior middle blocker Jessica Andrews had a powerful kill to help BG catch up. The lead changed twice, but the Cardinals pulled ahead, 18-11, and never looked back.
Ball State repeatedly scored off of kills aimed at the BG backline. Still, BG stayed competitive throughout the set, with Hovey and junior outside hitter Avery Hobson making plays.
Without Otten, the Falcon defense was bound to be a bit porous; others had to step up to fill the void left by the 6-foot-4 setter. Hovey did so, filling in and providing setting duties.
“As a team, we’re just adapting,” Hovey said. “My freshman year, I also set for the team, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment. I’m happy to do whatever it takes.”
BG rallied toward the end of the set. Hovey made an eye-popping kill right to the middle of the Cardinal defense. However, it wasn’t quite enough, as the Cardinals still won 25-20.
“It’s great to be back on the court helping the team. Two back-to-back losses sucks, especially to a rival like Ball State,” Hovey said.
BG opened the set the same way they finished the previous one: with a service error. But on the next play, Hovery buried a kill in the back right corner of the Cardinals’ side.
The Falcons struggled to build momentum early in the set, calling a timeout after the Cardinals went up 8-2.
The Orange and Brown struggled with errors, notching 16 attack errors compared to 13 for BSU and ten service errors (compared to five for the Cardinals).
Although down big, the Falcons refused to go away, narrowing the score to 14-11.
Sophomore middle blocker Helen Wilford made her presence known, with six total blocks.
Hovey was a big part of the Falcons’ offensive effort. When a ball sailed high toward the bench, she saved it just in time, bringing the ball back into play and setting up a Falcon score. She had another huge kill later in the set.
The Falcons fought hard in the second set, making a rally toward the end to bring the score to 23-20. But an ill-timed service error by the Falcons brought it to match point, where the Cardinals got a key block to win 25-20.
BG started the third set with a 3-0 lead. Ball State had some impressive blocking up front, making it hard for BG to build a comfortable lead. The Cards roared back, pulling ahead 10-9.
Errors were a theme on the day; Falcon scoring runs were often interrupted by errors, taking away the team’s momentum.
Once they took the lead, the Cardinals did not look back. They kept control throughout the entire set, although BG kept it close. At match point, up 24-20, Ball State called a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, BG scored again to bring it within two points. Then, a Ball State error led to another BG score, bringing it to 24-23 and facilitating another BSU timeout.
Energy in the building was incredibly high. It was BG’s serve, but Ball State scored to seal their three-set sweep, winning the set 25-23.
Overall, head coach Alex DelPiombo wants to see growth.
“I thought there were moments of good, but we’re in control of a lot of what went wrong tonight. I have to be better as a coach,” DelPiombo said.
The Falcons will travel to Kalamazoo to face the Western Michigan Broncos next Friday at 6:00 PM. Falcon Media Sports Network will have full coverage of the series at bgfalconmedia.com.
