BGSU volleyball (12-11, 6-5) lost in 5 sets to the reigning Mid-American Conference champions, Western Michigan Broncos (11-13, 8-3), on Saturday.
The loss marks not only a series sweep of the Falcons for the Broncos, but also back-to-back series losses following BG’s losses last week against Ball State (14-9, 10-1).
Despite playing in the first match of the series on Friday, Opposite Hitter Lauryn Hovey was absent from Saturday’s contest. As has been the case since her exit during the Toledo match earlier this month, setter Amanda Otten was also a scratch for the Falcons.
Anastasija Bozic, Anna Sitek, and Edyta Waclawczyk all registered double-doubles in the match, a Falcon career first for both Bozic and Waclawczyk
Isabelle Laube led the team in assists for the second consecutive night, posting a career-high 25 assists, bettering her previous best of 21 from the previous night.
The Falcons reached a new season high with 73 digs in the match, their highest since a meeting with Western Michigan last year.
Bowling Green traded small 1–2-point advantages with the Broncos, but the teams battled evenly, eventually tying 6-6.
The Broncos immediately ripped off 4 straight points, but the Falcons were able to slowly work their way back to just an 11-10 deficit.
The Falcons took the lead and closed the set by way of 4-0 and 3-0 runs late to go up 1-0.
In the second set, a 3-0 run kickstarted the Broncos, extending to 5-1 and eventually 12-5 scores.
BG called a timeout, but the Broncos never let the second set closer than a late 20-17 margin, at which point they went 5-2 on the Falcons to claim the second set.
Bowling Green was down early as much as 9-3 before calling a timeout. A 4-0 run brought the score to a closer 10-8, and BG would hold tight, eventually going on runs of 4-0 and 4-1, which they would better to 6-1.
At 22-20, the Falcons scored three straight, ending the set on a staggering 9-1 run and winning the third set to go up 2-1.
If the Falcons had all the momentum going into the fourth set, the result didn’t show it.
The teams stood tied at four apiece before Western Michigan went on a 5-1 stretch. The Falcons used a timeout at 11-6 Broncos, but the damage was already done.
Western Michigan showed no signs of slowing, powering through the Falcons with a 5-2 span and leading 16-8 as BG used a second timeout.
Another 6-0 rally by the Broncos ultimately pushed the Broncos to a 22-9 lead, and they traded points the remainder of the way to a 25-12 victory to force a fifth set.
Western Michigan opened set five 3-1, and then went on another 3-0 run to force an early timeout, leading 6-3. Trading points left the score at 8-5 before the Broncos continued the three-point run, leaving the Falcons down five.
With a 10-5 lead, the Broncos just had to trade points to close out the final set and the match.
Bowling Green will return to action Tuesday, Oct. 28, when it plays their second match of the year against their rival, Toledo Rockets (17-6, 8-3 MAC) at the Stroh Center.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Andrew Smith will have the call on WBGU 88.1 FM starting at 5:45 p.m. for pregame, with first serve at 6:00 p.m.
