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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
OHIO
Falcons Drop Five-Game Heartbreaker to #22 Ohio
October 27, 2006 | Volleyball
Oct. 27, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - GALLERY
The Bowling Green State University volleyball team took nationally-ranked Ohio to the brink of defeat, before eventually falling in the fifth game. The Falcons battled back after dropping the first two games to force a game five. Junior Madeline Means recorded a double-double (13 kills, 14 digs) for the Brown and Orange.
Over 1,300 fans visited Anderson Arena Friday night to watch the battle of the MAC's top two squads. The match lived up to the hype in game one as the score see-sawed back in forth throughout the opening act. Unfortunately, with the score knotted at 19-19, a Bobcat block gave Ohio a lead that they would not cease. Bowling Green came up short in a 30-26 loss.
Game two was not as close, ending with a 30-23 Ohio win. OU's offense busted out for a .261 hitting percentage, aiding the Bobcats to a two-game advantage heading into the locker rooms.
The last time Bowling Green fell behind two games-to-none against a nationally-ranked opponent at home, they responded by taking the next two to force a fifth game (last season against Ohio State). Friday was no different.
Five kills by Sophomore Kendra Halm in game three contributed to Bowling Green's 30-26 victory. BGSU adjusted defensively after the break, limting the Bobcats to a .114 hitting efficiency. Senior setter Chrissy Gothke got offensive in the clutch, swatting two kills in the final five points of the game three win.
Momentum was evident in game four, pushing the Falcons to a 30-25 win in which they hit at a booming .324 pace. Junior Stephanie Swiger blasted a game-high seven kills. Gothke bolstered her MAC Player of the Year candidacy as she steered the offensive outburst with 17 game-four assists.
The "house that roars" was electric in game five, buzzing with excitement. Swiger began the deciding game with a scorching attack that collided with the court for a kill. A three-point run by Ohio at 6-6 gave the Bobcats the lead for good, however. BGSU eventually dropped game five, 15-10.
The Brown and Orange fall to 21-3 overall and 10-1 in conference play. Bowling Green looks to rebound tomorrow afternoon with a home match against Kent State that begins at 3 PM.
Quotes from Head Coach Denise Van De Walle:
"In the first two games we looked nervous and didn't really run the game plan. We went into the locker room and talked about making some changes to run the middle more. I changed the line up rotation and got different match ups. We came out and played hard, passed well and ran the middle. In games three and four we hit the ball much, much better and I thought Ohio had trouble blocking. Madeline (Means) and (Stephanie) Swiger got it done for us at the net offensively.
"In game five we needed better attacking. Ohio was really good offensively and we were a step slow. The game got away from us once we changed sides. Ohio is a very good team and so are we. We need to regroup and get back on track tomorrow against Kent."
"I thought the crowd was great tonight. It's been a long time since we've had over a thousand people in the gym for a volleyball match. It was awesome to see and hear the crowd cheer us on. I want to thank everyone that came out tonight. I hope they loved what they saw and will come back tomorrow. The students were incredible. It was great Falcon spirit. The best in the MAC."
