The Battle of I-75 ended in sweeping fashion for the first time since 2008, but the Falcons (13-11) (7-5) have more work to do to grab one of the top two seeds in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
This weekend, the Orange and Brown are heading down to Oxford, Ohio, to take on the Miami RedHawks (11-13) (5-7) in a two-game series taking place on Friday and Saturday. It will be a battle between the two best statistical blocking teams in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Bowling Green leads the conference in blocks per set and total blocks on the season so far, with 227.5 total and 2.45 per set, while Miami is a close second with 225.5 total blocks and 2.40 per set. They also lead the MAC in solo blocks by far, with 64.
Historically, the RedHawks have gotten the better of the Falcons, sporting a 51-44 record against BG. However, the Falcons have won the past 12 matches against Miami and swept the RedHawks last season in their most recent skirmish.
Coming into this match, the Falcons are 1-4 in their last five games but are coming off a major win against Toledo at the Stroh on Tuesday. Oppositely, Miami is on a two-game losing streak, during which they have lost to both Toledo and Ball State.
Helping to lead the RedHawk charge is freshman opposite hitter Lauren Coyne, who had seven kills and a .313 hitting percentage against Ball State in the last match for Miami. Coyne has 185 kills on the season on a .189 hitting percentage with 67 total blocks.
Miami’s roster also holds the MAC blocking leader, senior middle blocker Gentry Warrick, with 128 total and averaging 1.44 per set. She also has herself 95 kills on a .274 hitting percentage. Against Ball State, Warrick had two kills on 10 attacks and six total blocks.
For Bowling Green, junior setter Amanda Otten has returned from injury and exacted her revenge on Toledo after suffering the injury while playing the Rockets at Savage Arena. In her first game back after six and a half missed games, Otten had 18 assists and 11 digs.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Edyta Waclawcyzk had 17 kills on 45 total attacks in the match against Toledo. She also had eight digs and a block. This season, Waclawcyzk has 179 kills on a .194 hitting percentage.
The first game of this two-game series will be on Friday, Oct. 31st at 6 p.m., and the second will be on Saturday, Nov. 1st at 4:00 p.m. Be sure to tune in to Falcon Radio for both those games with Andrew Smith of the Falcon Media Sports Network.
