Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Hit the Road to Wrap Up Regular Season
November 07, 2007 | Volleyball
Nov. 7, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
Complete Release in PDF Format
The Falcon netters are set to finish up conference play in two crucial road matches against Buffalo on Friday (Nov. 9) at 6:30 p.m. and Akron on Saturday (Nov. 10) at 7:00 p.m. Earlier this season when the Falcons matched up against the Zips and the Bulls at home BG came away with two big wins, set two new school records and one career milestone. The Falcons are currently tied for third in the MAC East with Kent State both at 10-4. As the MAC Tournament rolls around the Falcons are looking for two wins this weekend to secure a higher seed in the tournament.
THIS WEEKEND's MATCH-UPS
Falcons vs. Bulls
The Falcons are set to match up against Buffalo for their first match of the weekend. The Bulls are currently 2-28 overall and 1-13 in the MAC. The Bulls dropped two matches last weekend losing to Toledo (1-3) and Akron (0-3).
The Falcons lead the all-time series 14-1 and are 5-1 against the Bulls on the road. The Falcons only loss to the Bulls came in Oct. 2003 when the Falcons lost in a five game match. The Falcons are on five match winning streak against the Bulls after acing them off the court 3-0 in a record breaking match earlier this season (Oct. 6). The Falcons set the record for quickest match in Anderson Arena winning in an hour and eight minutes (since the scoring change to 30 point games in 2001) , set a new record for hitting percentage in a three game match with a .553 hitting percentage (the previous record of .512 was set against Buffalo on Oct. 7, 2006), and set a new record for most aces in a three game match with 17 service aces.
Falcons vs. Zips
The Orange and Brown are set to take on Akron in their last regular season match this season. The Zips are currently 10-16 overall and 2-13 in the MAC. Akron split last weekend beating Buffalo (3-0) and falling to Ball State (2-3).
The Falcons lead the Zips 23-11 in the all-time series and are 10-5 against the Zips on the road. The Falcons are on a seven match winning streak against the Zips and have only lost four of the last 13 meetings between the two teams.
In their meeting earlier this season the Falcons swept Akron in Anderson Arena. The victory was momentous for one Falcon in particular as senior Stephanie Swiger became only the 13th player in BGSU history to record 1,000 career kills.
NO. 16 OHIO ENDS FALCONS PERFECT SEASON AT HOME
The Falcons were unable to keep their perfect record at home as #16 Ohio defeated the Falcons for the first time this season in Anderson Arena, 3-0 (25-30, 28-30, 30-32). The Falcons kept the match very close containing the Bobcats to a .244 hitting percentage their lowest in the Mid-American Conference play all season.
FALCONS HONOR THE PARENTS WITH A WIN OVER KENT STATE
The Falcons welcomed Kent State Saturday (Nov. 3) afternoon on Parent's Day putting their perfect 11-0 record to the test. In a very close battle between two evenly matched teams the Falcons were victorious beating the Golden Flashes, 3-2 (30-23, 30-25, 31-33, 26-30, 15-13) and honoring Falcon parents with a win bringing their record in Anderson Arena to 12-0 with only #16 Ohio standing in the way of the Falcons perfect season at home.
HALM RUNNING THE MAC SHOW
Junior middle blocker Kendra Halm, Bucyrus, Ohio native was named MAC East Player of the Week (Nov. 5) for the third time this season. Halm is only the third player in BGSU volleyball history to be named MAC Player of the Week three times in one season. Halm's three MAC East Player of the Week is the most of any player in the MAC this season.
Halm leads the Falcons with a .316 hitting percentage and 127 blocks averaging 1.22 blocks per game. Not only does Halm lead BGSU but is a top the MAC conference as well. Halm is second in the MAC for hitting percentage and has led the MAC in blocks for the last three weeks. In conference play alone Halm has tallied 74 blocks averaging 1.40 blocks per game.
Halm had two solid performances this weekend and led the Falcons tying her career high with 22 kills hitting a .356 and collected five blocks in the win over the Golden Flashes. Despite a loss to #16 Ohio Halm led the Falcons with 19 kills and only two errors hitting a .586 and put up three blocks at the net on defense against the Bobcats. For the weekend Halm totaled 41 kills averaging 5.12 kills per game with a .446 hitting percentage. Halm recorded eight blocks averaging 1.00 block per game. Halm also had five digs, one assist, and 46.0 points for the weekend.
This is Halm's third time this season and fourth in her career being named MAC East Player of the Week as she was named MAC East Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks in October (Oct. 8 & 15) and once her freshman year (Oct. 17, 2005).
MEEK SHATTERS SEASON RECORD
Chelsey Meek shatter the BGSU record she set last season of 537 digs in a season, as she recorded her 538th dig of the season against Kent State (Nov. 3) in game one of the five game match. Meek picked up her 14th 20 plus dig match of the season with a 26 dig performance. Meek currently has totaled 560 digs this season with three more regular season matches and post-season play still ahead of her.
Meek is also in the race to break the all-time BGSU career digs record of 1,596 career digs set by Susie Norris four years ago. Meek has amassed 1,569 career digs and only needs 28 digs to become the number one passer in BGSU history. Meek is only the second player in BGSU history to record 1,500 digs. She recorded her 1,500th career dig in Anderson Arena during the Falcons win over Miami (Oct. 24).
FALCON DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Falcons had three players record double-doubles in the win over Kent State (Nov. 3). Sam Fish recorded her second double-double in a row and sixth of the season with 62 assists and 15 digs. Meghan Mohr picked up her seventh double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 assists. Madeline Means also picked up her seventh double-double of the season with 26 digs and 12 kills.
THE FALCONS DEFEND ANDERSON ARENA
The Falcons perfect season in Anderson Arena came to an end with a loss to #16 Ohio (Nov. 4). The Falcons ended the season 12-1 at home, which is the best home record for the Falcons since 1991 when the Falcons went 12-1 in Anderson Arena eventually winning the MAC and making the Falcons first NCAA appearance. The Falcons held their opponents collectively to a .161 hitting percentage while the Orange and Brown hit a .293 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
The Falcons are the second best team overall in the MAC with a .243 hitting percentage only behind #16 Ohio.
The Falcons also have four individuals in the top ten in the overall MAC leader board this week.
Junior Kendra Halm leads the MAC in blocks averaging 1.22 blocks per game with 127 blocks this season. In conference matches alone Halm leads the MAC averaging 1.40 blocks per game with 74 blocks against MAC opponents. Halm moved up to second in the MAC for hitting percentage with a .315 with 309 kills this season.
Junior Chelsey Meek is fourth in the MAC in digs averaging 5.57 digs per game totaling 574 digs this season.
Senior Stephanie Swiger is eighth in the MAC top ten in hitting percentage with a .290 totaling 325 kills.
Freshman Sam Fish is sixth in assists averaging 10.54 assists per game totaling 1,012 assists this season and ninth in service ace with 38 service aces averaging 0.40 aces per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES IN MAC EAST
The Falcons lead all but one all-time series against MAC East opponents. The Falcons are leading Akron (23-11), Buffalo (14-1), Kent State (39-17), and Ohio (40-21). Miami (23-35) is the only MAC East division team to lead BGSU in all-times series.
