Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Falcon Volleyball Wins Ninth Consecutive, Drops Miami 3-1
September 27, 2006 | Volleyball
Sept. 27, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Back-to-back MAC East Player of the Week Stephanie Swiger led the Bowling Green State University Falcon volleyball team to their ninth straight victory Wednesday night, a 3-1 win over Miami. The Findlay, Ohio native posted 12 kills and eight blocks on the night.
It was a night of ups and downs for the Brown and Orange as they hit over .400 in two games while stuggling offensively in the other two.
Game one was a diaster for the visting RedHawks, falling victim to a 7-1 Falcon run to begin the match that they never recoverd from. Freshman Corey Domek and Sophomore Kendra Halm blasted four kills apiece in the opening 30-15 game-one win. Bowling Green hit a blistering .469.
The wheels fell off in game two offensively, however. Despite Halm's six kills and .545 hitting percentage, Bowling Green hit just .136 as a team. It was a back-and-forth battle resulting in a 16-16 stalemate half-way through game two. Miami then went on a 9-2 to run to take a 24-18 edge. A kill by Emily Schroeder handed the RedHawks a 30-25 win, knotting the match at one game apiece.
Whatever Head Coach Denise Van De Walle and her coaching staff said in the locker room before game three must have worked as the Falcons snatched the first five points of the game. Bowling Green rolled to a 30-12 win, paced by Swiger and Junior Madeline Means' four kills.
Despite a drop in offensive effeciency in game-four, BGSU secured the match with a 30-26 triumph. Four consecutive Miami points forced Coach Van De Walle to call a timeout with the score at 19-16. After a RedHawk service ace, the Falcons rattled off five of the next seven points. Senior Chrissy Gothke pushed a ball into the back right corner for the match-winning kill.
BGSU looks to win their 10th match in a row on Saturday, Sept. 30th at Northern Illinois. The Falcons and Huskies are scheduled to begin at 7 PM Central time, and Falcon fans can follow along with the action on Gametracker.
Quotes from Head Coach Denise Van De Walle
"I am thrilled to get this win. I have a lot of respect for Carolyn (Condit) and her program. We beat a big, physical Miami team. They will get better and better as the season goes on."
"Swiger was great again tonight. She is really playing well for us."
"Our passing with Elizabeth (Simon), Chelsey (Meek), Madeline (Means) and Maggie (Karges), was as good as I've seen it this year. I thought Chrissy (Gothke) and Chelsey came up with some big plays defensively when we needed them. I am really proud of the team. We are executing well. Heading to NIU will be a challenge for us. They are tough to beat at home."
