Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Falcon Comeback Falls Short In Loss To Miami, 3-2
October 02, 2004 | Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team, after dropping the first two games, rallied back to force a fifth and decisive game, only to fall short Friday night in Oxford, Ohio (23-30, 22-30, 30-26, 30-25, 7-15) to the RedHawks. Freshman Maggie Karges led the Falcons with 19 kills in their first loss in MAC action.
Mark Hardaway was called upon to lead the volleyball team one more time, as head coach Denise Van De Walle's plane was delayed in Athens, Greece, following the Paralympic Games during the month of September. The final match for Hardaway may have been more than he bargained for as the Falcons competed in their first five game match of the season.
The Falcons got off to an early 5-2 start behind three kills by Karges, but the RedHawks answered back with a 5-0 run to take an early 7-5 lead in game one. Miami continued the run, extending the lead to four at 14-10 forcing a BGSU timeout. The timeout did little to slow down the MU offensive onslaught (MU hit .405), extending the lead to 25-18 (behind a 23-13 run), forcing another Bowling Green timeout. The Falcons got as close as 27-23, but fell in game one, 30-23.
Game two began much like game one ended. Several unforced errors dug the Brown and Orange an early 8-4 deficit. The Falcons continued to struggle finding their offensive rhythm falling behind 17-9, following four consecutive attack errors by BGSU. Seemingly calmed down after a timeout, Bowling Green closed to within three at 20-17, but back-to-back blocks by the RedHawks expanded the lead back to six, 25-19. Miami walked home with game two, 30-22, and a 2-0 lead heading to the locker room.
BGSU (9-5, 2-1) was not going to go home without a fight. They came out of the locker room looking like a completely different team, and opened game three with a 10-6 spurt. The Falcons continued to pour it on, doubling up the RedHawks, 16-8, following a Miami timeout. The kill parade continued for BG registering their largest lead, 24-11, and looked to be in control of game three before Miami posted a 9-1 run to close within five, 25-20. Kills by Melissa Mohr and Taylor Twite secured the game three victory, 30-26.
The Falcon comeback continued to began game four with an 8-4 run, forcing an early timeout by the RedHawks. BGSU extended the lead to six with two kills by Karges, 19-13, before Miami closed to within two at 19-17. Once again, as Miami worked their way back into game four, the Falcons were able to regain their composure and put the lead back to five, 23-18. MU got as close as 24-21, but could cut no further into the Bowling Green lead. BGSU won game four, 30-25.
Miami (3-9, 1-2) stormed out to an 8-4 lead with back-to-back blocks and stretched the lead to six, 13-7 to begin game five. The Falcons could get no closer, falling 15-7 in the final game.
For the match three Falcons recorded double-figure kills. Karges led the way with 19, with Twite (16) and Mohr (12) also reaching the 10-plus figure.
Defensively six Falcons posted at least seven digs. Mohr led the team with 16, followed by freshman Elizabeth Simon (15) Emily Manser (13), Chrissy Gothke (9), Karges (7) and Amber Mareski (7).
The Falcons will welcome back head coach Denise Van De Walle tomorrow night when they square off with the Cardinals of Ball State at 7:00 p.m. in Muncie, Indiana.
