The BGSU Volleyball team (12-8, 6-4 MAC) fell to the Western Michigan Broncos (10-13, 7-3 MAC) in Kalamazoo, in a match that went to five sets.
The Falcons won the first set 25-23, aided by some kills by junior outside hitter Marija Tabak. There were some lead changes, and although the Broncos led at times, they never held a lead by more than two points. The Falcons surged late, aided by a big-time block from senior middle blocker Jessica Andrews.
The second set was also a win for the Falcons, 25-19. Andrews, along with junior outside hitter Avery Hobson and outside hitter Edyta Waclawczyk, scored most of the points. With a convincing win in the second set, the Falcons were within striking distance of winning the match.
But issues arose in the third set, a set the Falcons lost 25-17. The Broncos got multiple service aces down the stretch, putting the set out of reach. Production from Hobson and company slowed down, allowing WMU to pull away.
Senior opposite Lauryn Hovey, despite returning to the lineup recently from injury, did not play. Without her offensive output, the team struggled to make plays when needed.
In set four, the Orange and Brown faced more of the same. In the 25-17 loss, the Falcons committed nine attack errors, allowing WMU to secure the easy points needed to build a comfortable lead. The Broncos took the lead on only the fifth play of the set, and never looked back.
In a must-win fifth set, the Falcons fell flat again, losing 15-6. Attack errors continued to be an issue, and the BG defense had few answers for WMU’s freshman outside hitter, Mia Jurkovic.
WMU jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and the lead never changed for the rest of the set.
In essence, the match was a tale of two halves. In the first two sets, BG scored 50 points, but only scored 40 points across the final three sets.
The Falcons play the Broncos again on Saturday at 4:00, before returning to the Stroh Center to take on Toledo on Oct. 28 at 6:00. For updates, follow the team at bgfalconmedia.com.
