BGSU volleyball (13-14, 7-8) began their final home series of the regular season on Friday night, falling to the Akron Zips (15-11, 8-7) in straight sets at the Stroh Center.
Set One
The first set started off with plenty of action. The Falcons and Zips went back and forth and were never separated by more than four points.
Akron libero Vanessa Del Real was a big contributor in set one, making three impact plays back-to-back to help put the Zips up 19-12.
Errors, mainly on serves, plagued both teams; BG racked up eight total errors, while Akron compiled nine.
Del Real was everywhere, racking up three digs and keeping volleys alive for the Zips.
Akron outside hitter Delaney Gash had a strong putdown to bring the set to set point.
The Falcons scored twice more, once on a long, action-packed volley that ended with an attack error by Gash.
The Falcons scored again, drawing within four points and forcing an Akron timeout.
But on the next play, Gash ended things with a decisive kill to the middle of the Falcons’ floor. Akron took the set, 25-20.
Set Two
The second set opened with an attack error by Gash. The Falcons added to the scoring with a kill by freshman outside hitter Marin Dunaway.
But Akron roared back with five straight points. Two more kills by Dunaway and a big-time block by senior middle blocker Jessica Andrews helped the Falcons regain some momentum, tying it up at 6-6.
Akron scored again. But Dunaway had another electric kill right to the Akron interior, eliciting cheers from the bench and the crowd.
Overall, the teams were quite evenly matched, which led to a lot of long, athletic, and entertaining volleys. Players on both teams, namely the two liberos, made impact plays to keep volleys alive.
Dunaway, who quickly emerged as the Falcons’ no. 1 option, made defensive plays as well, including a block at the net that tied the set up at 11-11.
Junior setter Martina Villani, of Akron, made some blocks to help the Zips pull ahead, 21-19. Akron scored twice more, leading Bowling Green head coach Alex DelPiombo to call a timeout.
Another block by Martina brought it to set point. Junior outside hitter Avery Hobson scored, bringing BG within four.
But another block by Martina sealed it; Akron took set two, 25-20.
Set Three
Andrews opened the scoring with a kill. The Falcons scored twice more, pulling ahead 3-0.
The first coaches’ challenge came after that, when Akron challenged the ruling that a Zip had touched the ball before it went out of bounds. Akron won the challenge, earning their first point of the set.
The Falcons didn’t surrender their lead. Hobson made some plays, including a kill that put the Falcons up 8-5.
The Orange and Brown looked significantly more comfortable in the third set, playing with more rhythm. Falcon sophomore libero Sydnie Hernandez continued to anchor the team, even as substitutions were made.
Andrews logged a kill to give the Falcons a four-point lead, their biggest of the set.
“Jessica was unbelievable in the middle,” DelPiombo said. “We wanted Jess in the middle all year.”
Akron roared back within a point. Hernandez made a diving, one-handed dig, but Akron still won the volley.
Akron made another successful coaches’ challenge on an out-of-bounds ball, tying the set at 20-20. Before long, the score was tied again, 21-21. Akron took the lead on an error by Otten, forcing a Falcon timeout.
The Zips brought it to set point – and potentially match point – 24-22. DelPiombo called a timeout.
Akron scored on a kill. In a set where BG racked up eight attack errors, Akron won, 25-22.
Junior setter Amanda Otten hopes for improvement late in games.
“We’ve also struggled at the end of sets,” Otten said. “Once we’re (at the end of a set) we’re all in, and I don’t think we had that today.
The Falcons host the Zips again on Saturday, at the Stroh Center at 4 p.m. Coverage will be provided by Falcon Media Sports Network on WBGU 88.1 FM and at bgfalconmedia.com.
