The Falcon volleyball team finished the weekend’s InnTowner Invitational tournament with three losses.
BG played the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee on Friday as their first game of the tournament.
Head coach Danijela Tomic said she was frustrated with the way her team played in the first match.
“We were not together, we did not play smart, or with heart,” Tomic said. “Which were some of the things I asked my team to do.”
Tomic said Milwaukee was an excellent team and they beat BG because of their quick attacks and slides behind their setter.
Falcon left-side and right-side hitter, Jelena Sunjic was a bright spot for the team as she had earned 16 kills in the match. This was a career high for her.
“[Jelena] could play at most schools,” Tomic said of the outstanding freshman. “She doesn’t play like a freshman. She does things we ask of her and we are seeing the results. In this match she played as well as she could.”
On Saturday, the Falcons played two games, sharing the court with Kansas and tournament host, No. 25 Wisconsin.
Despite playing competitive volleyball, the Falcons lost both matches against their opponents.
In the first game against Kansas, the Falcons, led by Lindsey Butterfeild and Paige Penrod, lost in five sets. Butterfeild and Penrod each scored more than 20 kills, but the rest of the Falcons team struggled as they hit .158 as a team.
Saturday night, the Wisconson Badgers seemed to have clipped the Falcon’s wings, and beat them in drop sets by scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 25-20 in the three-set match.
Tomic said the schools they are playing difficult, but she is glad the team is able experience play against high caliber teams because this is where the team wants to be.
“Our goal is to be in the top 25,” Tomic said. “At this point I do not think that will happen this year, but I am glad our freshman can see what we are up against.”
Tomic is hoping the games prior to conference play will help the team play to the caliber of the teams they are facing currently.
“We needed a wake up call to prepare us for the [Mid-American Conference],” she said. “Right now we are training our players to go in the direction we want to see.”
Butterfield was named to the All-Tournament Team at the InnTowner Invitational. During the tournament, Butterfield posted 47 kills [4.27 k/s] while hitting .250.
The Falcon’s season record now sits at 1-7, and they will take on the Youngstown University Penguins. First serve will be at 7 p.m. inside the Stroh Center.
