Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Knock Off Leader of the MAC East Miami, 3-1
October 24, 2007 | Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Going into tonight's game the Falcons were tie for second with Kent State both one game behind Miami and Ohio in the MAC East Division. The Falcons ended the RedHawks nine match winning streak and brought them down to a three way tie for second in the MAC East Division in BGSU's second win over Miami this season. The Falcons remain perfect at home now 11-0 and extended their winning streak to eight matches with a 3-1 win over Miami (30-27, 30-20, 20-30, 30-27). The Falcons owned the net once again in Anderson Arena hitting a .209 and totaling 13 blocks for the night compared to the RedHawks .172 hitting percentage and five blocks.
The RedHawks jumped out early attacking the Falcons taking the first two points of the match and then following up with another two points to take a 4-1 lead. The RedHawks continued to fire away at the Falcons putting together a four point run to take a 10-6 lead. The Falcons fought hard to keep the RedHawks within striking distance and after a three point run came within one of the RedHawks 15-16. The Falcons later put together a four point run, which gave the Falcons their first lead of the night 22-21. The Falcons stayed aggressive scoring points in a row and siding out right away. With Falcons up by one 24-23 Meghan Mohr pounded a ball for a kill that even a great hustle by Miami couldn't save. Even the defensive specialists were in on the offensive strike at the end of game one with Elizabeth Simon terminating a ball for a kill from fellow defensive player Chelsey Meek to get side out. The Falcons secured game point off of a Stephanie Swiger kill taking a 29-25 lead over the RedHawks. The RedHawks were able to shake off two Falcon game points but after a Kendra Halm kill game one ended with the Falcons winning 30-27. The Falcons were aggressive at the net hitting their best all night with 19 kills and only two errors hitting a .370 and collecting three blocks, holding the RedHawks to hitting a .255 and no blocks in game one.
The Falcons came out even stronger in game two stringing together five points early to take a 5-1 lead over the RedHawks. The Falcons extended their lead with another five point run to take a 13-5 lead. The Falcons continued to score points in a row allowing their lead to grow to 19-9 over Miami. The RedHawks then put together a three point run to come within seven the but the Falcons answered right back with a four point run taking their biggest lead of the night 11 points, 23-12. The RedHawks didn't give up and put together yet another three point run to come within seven of the Falcons but didn't have enough to surpass the Falcons who won game two 30-20. BGSU was able to keep Miami under wrap in game two with their lowest hitting percentage of the night hitting a .042 compared to the Falcons .275.
The Falcons took the first point of game three with a kill from Halm but the RedHawks were ready to battle as they strung together a five point run to take a 6-2 lead over the Falcons that they wouldn't let go of in game three. The Falcons continued to fight but another RedHawk run put the Falcons down by 10 points 18-8. The Falcons weren't able to put more than two points together until the very end of game three when they put together a three point run to come within eight of the RedHawks but didn't have enough to overcome them losing game three, 20-30.
Game four was nothing like game three with the Falcons jumping out to an early lead after a five point run, 5-2. The RedHawks answered back with a six point run to take an 11-7 lead over the Falcons. With the Falcons down by four they put together a three point run to come within one but the RedHawks fired right back with a four point run taking a 16-11 lead. The Falcons tied the game up 18-18 with a five point run started by a double block from Halm and Corey Domek. The scored continued to go back and forth point for point until Stephanie Swiger terminated play for a kill, which led to a four point Falcon run, giving BGSU a 24-22 lead. With the score tied up 27-27 the Falcons put up another huge block from Halm and Madeline Means to side out and take a 28-27 lead. Game four ended with back-to-back kills from Swiger with the Falcons winning, 30-27. The Falcons once again dominated the net holding the RedHawks to a .074 hitting percentage with five blocks.
Blocking was key in the success of the Falcons tonight with almost every front court player picking up at least one block. Halm led the way with 10 blocks. In the back court the Falcons had three players in double digits with Meek leading the way with 27 digs, Sam Fish with 13 digs and Means with 12 digs.
Meek recorded her 1,500th career dig in the win over Miami and has amassed 1,508 career digs only 88 digs behind BGSU's all time dig leader.
Fish recorded her fourth career double-double with 53 assists to go along with her 13 digs.
The Falcons also had three players in double digits on offense with Swiger leading the way with 20 kills and only three errors hitting a .415. Also in double digits were Domek with 18 kills hitting a .220.
Halm recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 kills hitting a .250 in addition to her 10 blocks.
The Brown and Orange are now 18-7 over all and 9-2 in the MAC, remaining undefeated in Anderson Arena. After taking on the number one team in the MAC East Division the Falcons hit the road to take on the number one team in the MAC West Division, Western Michigan on Saturday (Oct. 27) at 7:00 p.m.
