Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons On The Road Again
October 17, 2007 | Volleyball
Oct. 17, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
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After an undefeated home stand that continued the Falcons' perfect record in Anderson Arena, now 10-0, the Falcons will take to the road again this weekend. The Falcons will take on arch-rival Toledo on Friday (Oct. 19) at 7:00 p.m. and Ball State on Saturday (Oct. 20) at 7:00 p.m.
Falcons vs. Rockets
The Falcons take on arch-rival Toledo in the first of their two matches on the road against the MAC West this weekend. The Rockets are currently 3-16 overall and 0-8 in the MAC. The Rockets dropped two matches last week falling to Kent State (Oct. 12) 3-0 and #20 Ohio (Oct. 13) 3-0.
BGSU leads the all-time series 46-12 and are 17-10 against the Rockets in Toledo, Ohio. The Falcons have won 10 of the last 15 matches against the Rockets and are on a two match winning streak after beating them twice last season. The first win for the Falcons last season was a three game sweep in Anderson Arena (Oct. 22). The second meeting between the two teams was in the MAC Tournament where the Falcons beat the Rockets in another three game sweep (Nov. 17) advancing to the MAC Tournament final. The semi-final sweep over the Rockets put two of the Falcons in the MAC Tournament record books as junior Kendra Halm recorded 12 blocks against Toledo and senior Corrie Mills recorded 11 blocks against Toledo. Halm broke the BGSU record for most blocks in a three game match.
Falcons vs. Cardinals
BGSU Head Coach Denise Van De Walle and the Falcons will match up against Van De Walle's alma mater Ball State in the second of the two matches this weekend. The Cardinals are currently 3-17 overall and 2-6 in the MAC. The Cardinals lost two matches last week losing to #20 Ohio (Oct. 12) 3-0 and Kent State (Oct. 13) 3-1.
The Falcons are on a three match winning streak against the Cardinals after sweeping them twice last season once during the regular season and once in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. In the victory over the Cardinals, junior Chelsey Meek broke the record for most digs in season she recorded 24 digs, which brought her season total to 502 digs. Meek ended last season with 537 digs and holds the BGSU record for most digs in a season.
FALCONS WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BIRDS
The Falcons continued their perfect record in Anderson Arena now 10-0 at home 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 this season 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).
FALCONS DOMINATE NET PLAY AGAINST CHIPPEWAS
The Falcons remain unscathed in Anderson Arena (9-0) after a 3-1 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas (Oct. 12) 30-20, 31-33, 30-16, 30-16. The Falcons' front court put up big numbers for the fourth match in a row in Anderson Arena. The Falcons recorded a .338 hitting percentage with three players in double digits for kills. The Falcons also owned the net on defense putting up 16 blocks keeping the Chippewas to a mere .065. With a record breaking performance MAC East Player of the Week (Oct. 8 & 15) Kendra Halm recorded 11 block assists against the Chippewas breaking the BGSU record for most block assists in a four game match. The previous record was 10 block assists set by Nicky Mudrak against Virginia Tech (12/4/92) and Carlyn Esslinger against Kent (10/27/95).
HALM BACK-TO-BACK MAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior middle blocker Kendra Halm, Bucyrus, Ohio native was named MAC East Player of the Week (Oct. 15) for the second straight week. Halm is only the sixth player in BGSU history to be named MAC Player of the Week for two weeks in a row. Halm, first team All-MAC last year, helped the Falcons remain undefeated at home in Anderson Arena and go 2-0 this weekend with wins over MAC West Division opponents Central Michigan (Oct. 12) and Eastern Michigan (Oct. 13).
Halm and the Falcons started the weekend off with a four game win against the Chippewas. Halm recorded eight kills with only two errors in 19 attempts hitting a .316. Halm made an even bigger presence at the net on defense against the Chippewas breaking the BGSU record for most block assists in a four game match with 11 block assists. The previous record was 10 block assists set by Nicky Mudrak against Virginia Tech (12/4/92) and Carlyn Esslinger against Kent (10/27/95). Halm tied her career high and led the Falcons with a total of 12 blocks. To top Friday night's play Halm recorded even better numbers on offense against the Eagles with 21 kills and only one error in 33 attempts good for an impressive .606, her second highest of the season. Halm also added seven blocks in the win over the Eagles. For the week Halm totaled 29 kills and only three errors in 52 attempts hitting a .500 and averaging 3.22 kills per game. At the net on defense Halm recorded 19 blocks averaging 2.11 blocks per game and also recorded two digs and two assists and 39.0 points.
Halm leads the Falcons with 83 blocks this season averaging 1.15 blocks per game overall which is second in the MAC in blocks and leads the MAC in conference play averaging 1.33 blocks per game.
This is Halm's third time begin named MAC East Player of the Week as she was named last week's (Oct. 8) MAC East Player of the Week and once her freshman year (Oct. 17, 2005). Halm was named to the first team All-MAC and to the Academic All-MAC team as well as receiving BGSU honors being named Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season.
MEEK BREAKS 25 YEAR RECORD
Junior Chelsey Meek tallied a career high 38 digs breaking the BGSU record for digs in a five game match against Eastern Michigan (Oct. 13). The previous record was 37 digs by Debbie Hopskins set against Toledo (11/21/83). Meek has been solid on defense all season and has recorded three 30 plus dig matches and ten 20 plus dig matches. 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. Meek currently holds the BGSU record for most digs in a season with her record breaking 537 digs last season. Meek leads the Falcons with 448 digs this season, is second in the MAC and 28th the nation for digs averaging 5.60 digs per game.
FALCONS UNDEFEATED IN ANDERSON ARENA
The Falcons are undefeated in Anderson Arena, now 10-0 on their home court, which is the best home opening for the Falcons since 1991 when the Falcons went 13-1 in Anderson Arena eventually winning the MAC and making the Falcons first NCAA appearance. The Falcons have held their opponents collectively to a .141 hitting percentage while the Orange and Brown are hitting a .318 in Anderson Arena.
The only team in volleyball history to go undefeated in Anderson Arena is the 1979 volleyball team.
FALCONS IN MAC LEADER BOARD
BGSU moved up the ranks to second in the MAC for hitting percentages with a .259 and third in kills averaging 15.21 kills per game.
The Falcons also have five individuals in the top ten in the overall MAC leader board this week.
After two record breaking performances this weekend by juniors Kendra Halm and Chelsey Meek they both moved up the ranks in the MAC leader boards.
Halm is now second in the MAC in blocks averaging 1.15 blocks per game with 93 blocks this season. In conference matches alone Halm leads the MAC averaging 1.33 blocks per game with 40 blocks in MAC matches. Halm is also fifth in the MAC for hitting percentages with a .314.
Meek is second in the MAC in digs averaging 5.60 digs per game.
Senior Stephanie Swiger is ranked eighth in the MAC top ten in hitting percentage with a .294 totaling 244 kills.
Sophomore Corey Domek finds herself 10th in kills in the MAC with 276 kills this season averaging 3.49 kills a game.
Freshman Sam Fish is seventh in assists averaging 10.04 assists per game totaling 733 assists this season. Fish is also eighth in service aces in the MAC with 30 service aces averaging 0.41 per game.
