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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BUFFALO
Falcons Ace the Bulls In a Record Breaking Match
October 06, 2007 | Volleyball
Oct. 6, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Falcons served the Bulls off the court in three games winning, 30-11, 30-19, 30-13. As a team the Falcons broke the BGSU record for hitting percentage in a three game match hitting an impressive .553 with 47 kills and only five errors in 76 attempts against the Bulls this evening. The previous record was set almost an exact year ago on Oct. 7, 2006 against Buffalo when the Falcon hit .512 with 52 kills and eight errors in 86 attempts. The Falcons also broke the record for most aces in a three game match with a total of 19 aces. Every Falcon that served in the match against the Bulls recorded at least one service ace. Sam Fish led the way for the Falcons recording a career high eight service aces.
"I thought today was special," said BGSU Head Coach Denise Van De Walle. "It was by far the best serving I have seen from a BG team in years. 19 aces is incredible. We have been stressing being more aggressive from the service line and it paid off today. Sam came close to tying the school record for individual aces with 8. She really served the ball well today."
Falcons attacked the Bulls from the start with a kill from Kendra Halm to side out, which led to a seven point Falcon run taking a 7-0 lead. Fish recorded three of her eight service aces in the Falcons first run of the game. The Falcons continued to push through never letting up against the Bulls and put together back-to-back four point runs extending their lead to 12 points over the Bulls, 22-8. The Falcons finished off game one with one of their 19 service aces from Elizabeth Simon.
The Falcons came out just as aggressive in game two scoring the first four points with Stephanie Swiger back at the serving line. The Bulls eventually answered back with a three point run pulling within two of the Falcons, 6-4. The Falcons once again extended their lead after a seven point run, which included two Corrie Mills service aces giving the Falcons a 21-10 lead. After another Falcon four point run the Falcons took a 13 point lead, 28-15. The Falcons secured game point off a kill by libero Chelsey Meek. The Bulls were able to fight off one Falcon game point but on the next play Fish put away a kill ending game two, 30-19. The Falcons' offense dominated the Bulls recording 18 kills with only one error hitting a .567 compared to the Bulls .115.
After game one and two fans didn't think the match could get any better, but the Falcons proved otherwise. The Falcons took hold of game three right away with a monstrous kill from Halm which started the Falcons' nine point run with Fish at the serving line. Once again Fish showed off her aggressive serve, acing the Bulls four times in the Falcons' nine point run. With the score 9-0 the Falcons continued to attack the Bulls. In freshman Alex Zlabis' debut in the libero position she helped the Falcons put together another four point run, three of which were service aces from Zlabis, giving the Falcons a 15-4 lead. The Falcons had one more big run in them, putting together a seven point run started by a kill from Shari Luther, which gave them a 26-8 lead. The Falcons got game point off of a kill from Meghan Mohr. The Bulls once again didn't give up fighting off three Falcon game points. Game three ended with a kill from Halm. The Falcons owned the net in game three with 14 kills and only one error in 18 attempts good for an exceptional .722 hitting percentage and held the Bulls to a zero hitting percentage.
The Falcons were led by Halm with an errorless match terminating 13 kills with no errors in 16 attempts hitting a phenomenal career high .812 (just short of breaking the individual match record). Also putting up big numbers on offense for the Falcons were Corey Domek with 10 kills and only one error in 16 attempts hitting a .562 and Kaitlin Jackson with six kills and only one error in eight attempts hitting a career high .625.
"Kendra has been unbelievable this whole week, said Van De Walle. "Today was the best performance of her career offensively. She was unstoppable. Having an error free game hitting-wise is really hard to do and she did it. It was nice to see Domek and Kaitlin put up big numbers on the outside as well."
For the second match in a row Fish was just shy of recording her first triple-double with 26 assists, a career high eight service aces, six digs, and four kills with no errors hitting a career high .667.
Leading the way on defense for the Falcons was Meek with 12 digs and tying her career high with two kills and no errors in two attempts.
"Chelsey played so well again but I changed liberos in the third game to give Alex a chance to show us what she can do," said Van De Walle. "She did great. She came in and served three balls and served three aces. It doesn't get much better than that."
The Falcons' victory was an all-around win with everyone contributing in big ways. The Falcons had seven players hitting a .500 plus and eight players recording at least one service ace.
"Luther came in and got three big kills right away and went three for three. It was a great day at the net for us. I was really happy to get the win in the manner we got it. Everyone contributed to the outcome. "
Other Notes of Interest:
Fast Falcons
The Falcons set the BGSU record for the quickest match (since the scoring change to 30 point games in 2001) in tonight's victory over Buffalo in one hour and eight minutes.
Falcon Weekend Repeat
Last year this same weekend the Falcons swept Akron and Buffalo.
The three game hitting percentage record that the Falcons broke with tonight's .553 hitting percentage was set in last year's win over Buffalo (Oct. 7, 2006) in Anderson Arena with a .512 hitting percentage.
Undefeated Falcons
The Falcons remain undefeated on their home court in Anderson Arena now 8-0.
