Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Wright State
Falcons Sweep Raiders On Day One Of Raider Challenge
September 17, 2004 | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2004
DAYTON, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team, behind a career-night by freshman Maggie Karges, downed Wright State University in three games to open day one of the Raider Challenge in Dayton, Ohio. For the match Karges recorded 19 kills (19-1-34), 22 digs and a .529 hitting percentage, all team highs.
"I was very pleased with the play of our left side," said assistant coach Mark Hardaway. "Maggie [Karges] had a great game all-around and Ashlei [Nofzinger] came off the bench to help. I feel like they won the match for us.
The Falcons (6-3) began game one on a 5-2 run with a service ace by freshman Elizabeth Simon and back-to-back kills by senior Melissa Mohr, only to have Wright State gain the lead at 7-6 after two receiving errors by BGSU. The two teams exchanged the next 30 points to give WSU a 22-21 lead before three kills by Karges (had eight for the game) and a kill by Mohr gave the Brown & Orange a 26-22 lead, and a game one victory, 30-28.
Even with three service attempts in the net for BGSU in the first 11 points to open game two, the Falcons were able to get out to an early 8-5 lead with several stellar defensive plays, including a dig by Karges that wowed the entire C.J. McLin Gymnasium crowd. Bowling Green maintained a 15-11 lead and following a WSU timeout the Falcons were able to extend their lead to 20-13, walking home with game two, 30-18.
The Raiders (2-8) opened game three with an 11-8 run, but following a 9-3 spurt by Bowling Green, the Falcons forced a WSU timeout at 17-14. Just when BGSU looked as if they were going to pull away with the match with a 20-15 lead, WSU answered with a 5-0 run to knot the score at 20-20, forcing a Falcon timeout. With the score still tied at 31-31 a kill by freshman Stephanie Swiger followed by an attack error by the Raiders gave BGSU the three game sweep and their sixth straight victory.
"We gave Wright State a lot of opportunities to get back into the match, said Hardaway. "We are just going to have to do a better job with our communication and remain aggressive on defense."
"I am very excited to have another win. We need that momentum against teams like Wake Forest and Morehead State."
Joining Karges in the double-figure kill category were Stephanie Swiger and Ashlei Nofzinger, both recording 10 kills.
Libero Elizabeth Simon had a productive night recording 14 digs in the three set match.
Senior Amber Mareski posted 51 assists along with 10 digs and six block-assists.
BGSU returns to action Saturday when they face Wake Forest (noon) and Morehead State (5:00 p.m.) to conclude the two day tournament.
