The BG volleyball team dropped both of its matches to Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan this past week.
BG lost the first match to the Chippewas 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-18. BG was unable to find the momentum to achieve victory.
Head coach Danijela Tomic said the team prepared well but did not play they way she knows the team could have.
“This was a disappointing loss for us because we did not play to our potential,” Tomic said. “We had a good game plan … We [just] need contributions from everyone on the court.”
BG scored eight of ten points late to put them ahead 23-20, but Central Michigan scored five straight points to win the first set 25-23.
It was more of the same in the second set, and in the third BG had a switch of gears and took a early lead 12-6 and never looked back, winning 25-19. Central Michigan ended up with the last laugh winning the 4th and final set after being tied at 17 all.
BG finished the game with a .213 team attack percentage. Sophomore Alyssa Maloney finished with 15 kills, two aces, and five blocks, sophomore Madeline Garda had 19 digs and freshman Paige O’Connor added 10 kills.
BG moved on to its next game on Saturday facing off against Eastern Michigan where they lost 25-20, 26-24, 25-18.
BG, like in the first game, had numerous opportunities to win but was unable to do so.
“Our serve recieve was a major issue and we could never get into a rhythm because of that,” Tomic said.
Eastern Michigan had eight service aces of the day helping them to win each of the three sets, in addition to long runs in every set.
In the first set the Eagles had a 10-2 run then BG rallied to make it 14 all, but Eastern Michigan rolled along from then on out.
As in the second, BG had it all tied up at 18 apiece but Eastern Michigan took over and as in the third set BG did lead 5-2 but Eastern Michigan had an 8-0 run and finished the game winning three straight sets.
In the game sophomore Jelena Sunjic had 10 kills and five blocks while Garda had 22 digs and Maloney had seven kills.
For BG, this is one of many matches they could have won but had trouble finding away to get over that hump and end the set on a good note.
“As in many of our matches this year, we had chances to win, but we made unforced errors at crucial times,” Tomic said. “We are not able to take advantage of those opportunities.”
BG now drops to 4-16 overall with a 1-7 record in the Mid-American Conference. Their next game will be this Friday at 7 p.m. against Toledo in the Stroh Center, followed by Ball State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at home.
