Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Win the Battle of the Birds, 3-2 Over the Eagles
October 13, 2007 | Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Falcons went into this afternoon's match a perfect 9-0 on their home court in Anderson Arena and continued their perfect record now 10-0 in Anderson Arena after beating the Eastern Michigan Eagles (30-18, 27-30, 30-25, 26-30, 17-15). Eastern Michigan gave the Falcons their toughest battle at home in a marathon match lasting two hours and twenty-nine minutes the longest match of the season in Anderson Arena. (The Falcons' last and only other five game match in Anderson Arena was against Valparaiso in September for the Best Western Invitational Title.) The win marked another BGSU record breaking match for the Falcons with junior Chelsey Meek tallying a career high 38 digs breaking the BGSU record for digs in a five game match. The previous record was 37 digs by Debbie Hopskins set against Toledo (11/21/83).
The Falcons came out fired up much like they have all season in Anderson Arena. The Falcons took the first point of the match with a kill from Corey Domek. Game one went back and forth until the Falcons put together four runs, which gave them a 20-12 lead over the Eagles. The Falcons pushed through to win game one, 30-19. The Falcons offense terminated 21 kills hitting a .306 and held the Eagles to a .116 hitting percentage in game one, the Eagles' lowest hitting percentage of the match.
Game two was a much closer battle between the two teams with neither team taking more than a three point lead. With the score tied 7-7, the Eagles put together a three point run to take a 7-10 lead. The Falcons answered back with a three point run of their own tying the game back up 12-12. Game two continued to say neck in neck and with the Falcons up 22-21 the Eagles sided out and went on a four point run to take a 25-22 lead over the Falcons. The Eagles went on to win game two 30-27, evening up the match 1-1 with both teams heading into the locker rooms. Game two was the closest all night with both teams hitting their best game of the match. The Falcons hit .342 with 18 kills and the Eagles hit almost the exact same hitting a .341 with 19 kills.
BGSU found themselves going into the locker room with the match even, one game to one game for the second match in a row, but came out of the locker room strong once again. The Falcons won the first point of game three off of a Domek kill. With the Falcons down by one 3-4, they strung together a four point run started by a kill from Meghan Mohr and regained their lead over the Eagles 6-4. The Falcons wouldn't let go of the lead the rest of game three. The Falcons continued to fight hard against the Eagles extending their lead to five points, 16-11. The Eagles tried to come back but were only able to come within two after their four point run that was stopped by a kill from Kendra Halm. With the Falcons up 22-19 they put together another three point run with Mohr at the serving line to extend their lead to six points, 25-19. The Eagles didn't let down as they put together a three point run narrowing the Falcons' lead to four 27-23. The Falcons got game point off of another Halm kill, 29-24. The Eagles were able to fight off one Falcon game point but a kill from Halm ended game three with the Falcons winning 30-25. The Falcons put up big numbers in game three again with 21 kills hitting a .340 and recording four blocks, which kept the Eagles at a .250 and no blocks. Meek was also key in stopping the Eagles' offense in game three picking up 14 digs.
The Eagles took an early 6-1 lead in game four after a five point run. The Falcons answered back with a three point run with Mohr at the serving line, but the Eagles came back once again with another five point run taking a 15-10 lead over the Falcons. The Falcons continued to fight to keep the Eagles within striking distance and after a three point run were only down by two, 17-19. The Falcons put together a five point run to tie the game up 24-24. The Eagles finished game four winning 30-26.
With the match tied two games all, the battle of the birds would come down to game five. The Eagles struck first in game five winning the first point and later going on a three point run to take a 4-1 lead over the Falcons. The Falcons tied everything up 6-6 off of a second ball kill from Sam Fish. The Falcons were then able to score two points in a row in their next three rotations giving them a 10-8 lead over the Eagles. The Eagles answered back with a three point run taking an 11-10 lead. The score went back and forth with a point separating the two teams at most. A Mohr kill gave the Falcons game point advantage, 14-13 over the Eagles. After an Eastern Michigan timeout the Eagles were able to side out off of a kill from Becky Reenders. The Eagles were then able to take game point advantage 15-14 over the Falcons. The Falcons weren't done yet and fought off game point with a kill from Stephanie Swiger tying game five up once again at 15-15. With Elizabeth Simon back at the serving line the Falcons were able to secure game point off of another Swiger kill. Simon finished off the Eagles with a service ace, giving the Falcons the 17-15 victory.
"I am so proud of the way the team fought today. It was an intense battle between two very good teams," said BGSU Head Coach Denise Van De Walle. "The fifth set was tough because neither team could get more than a two point lead. The last two points are the ones that matter. Swiger's kill in transition and Simon's ace. When Simon served that ace for match point it was as if we won a championship. Tears welled up in my eyes! There was a lot of energy expended in this match, from both teams."
The Falcons' arsenal was firing all weapons with four hitters in double digits, three with 20 plus kills. Leading the way for the Falcons recording her third double-double of the season with a career high 23 kills was Mohr hitting a .422 and 12 digs. Halm, MAC East Player of the Week last week, put together another close to errorless performance with 21 kills and only one error hitting a .606 for the night. Swiger recorded 20 kills and Domek had 15 kills. Running the offense for the Falcons was Fish who distributed a career high 75 assists and picked up her third double-double with 11 digs.
"Swiger, Kendra, Domek, and Meghan are all hitting the ball exceptionally well day in and day out for us right now. They put up numbers that are hard to beat," said Van De Walle. "I can't remember the last time we had three players get 20 kills each in a match. That's incredible. A lot of credit should go to our setter, Sam, for spreading the ball around and then feeding the hot hitter. The connection she has with Swiger and Kendra in the middle is exactly what we need. Then she opens up the one on ones for Meghan and Domek."
"Milica came in off the bench and did a good job of hitting smart shots. She was very aggressive and that's what we needed against Eastern," said Van De Walle.
The Falcons' defensive stop was led by Meek with a BGSU record breaking and career high 38 digs. Meek's 38 digs broke the BGSU record for digs in a five game match, which was previously held by Debbie Hopskins with 37 digs against Toledo (11/21/83) . Meek has been solid on defense all season recording her third 30 plus dig match and her tenth 20 plus dig match. Meek is third in BGSU history for digs totaling 1,443 career digs only 22 digs behind former teammate Chrissy Gothke who is second in BGSU history.
"Chelsey is a difference maker," said Van De Walle. "I am thrilled with her defense. Thirty eight digs is a lot hustle and effort. She kept us in so many rallies with her defense today. I am really happy for her to have broken a 25 year old record. She's playing great right now."
Maggie Karges picked up 11 digs and Simon had 10 digs.
"Karges, Simon, and Chelsey passed the ball on a dime today," said Van De Walle. "That allowed us to run our offense like we needed."
The Orange and Brown are now 15-7 overall and 6-2 in the MAC on a five match winning streak along with being undefeated, 10-0 on their home court in Anderson Arena.
