Bowling Green State University Athletics
Volleyball Opens Camp
August 15, 2007 | Volleyball
Aug. 15, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team, fresh off a 26-6, 13-3 MAC finish, opened their 2007 season this week with several practices. The Falcons return 12 of 13 players from last year's squad that were just one contest away from reaching the NCAA Tournament.
"Things are going well," said BGSU head coach Denise Van De Walle. "We started out a little rusty but that's ok. Eachsession in the gym has been better than the one before. It'sgood to beback together again. This is a great group to coach. We have a lot of experience in some of the positions and we're fairly new in others. We're focused and I love that. I believe they know what they have to do to be at the top of the conference. Our first tournament will tell us a lot about ourselves. Illinois, IPFW, and Dayton are all greatprograms. It will be a reallyfun way to startthe season."
Falcons Have Best Season In 14 Years
The 2006 BGSU Volleyball team finished last season with an overall 26-6 record, their best finish since the 1992 season when they went 30-8. The 2006 season was highlighted by a 17 match win streak, the longest in school history.
Falcons Return 12 of 13 Players
BGSU returns 12 of their 13 players from last season's squad that went 26-6, and played in the conference championship. Overall they return 89% (1575-1760) of their kills, 79% (118-149) of the service aces, 84% (1640-1953) of the digs and 79% (251-319) of the total blocks.
BGSU Also Returns Four All-MAC Performers
Returning to lead the 2007 Falcons will be four All-MAC performers from last season. Both Stephanie Swiger and Kendra Halm were first-team All-MAC, while Madeline Means earned second team honors and Corey Domek was named to the All-MAC freshman squad.
The Other Eight
Though not earning All-MAC honors the other eight returners have also supplied stability on the court. Also returning are Milica Askic (had 20 kills in a limited role), Kaitlin Jackson( an outside-hitter that swings with both arms) Maggie Karges (852 career digs), Chelsey Meek (a school record 537 digs), Corrie Mills (206 kills and 107 blocks), Meghan Mohr (had 231 kills as a freshman) and Elizabeth Simon (519 career digs). Shari Luther was also a member of last season's squad, but sat out the season as a redshirt.
Digging Meek
Through two seasons of Falcon volleyball Chelsey Meek has already established herself as one of the all-time greats on the backline. In her first season with the Orange and Brown she posted 458 digs, fourth most in school history. The following season she went on to smash the school record of 497 digs in a season (by Chrissy Gothke), finishing the season with 537 digs. Through two years she owns 995 saves, most ever by a Falcon in their first two years of action. Also of note, her 5.21 digs per game is also a school record, previously owned by Susie Norris and her 4.28 digs per game in 2000.
More All-MAC Knowledge
With Domek earning a spot on the All-MAC Freshman squad, she became just the third Falcon in the school's history to be recognized with this accomplishment. In fact, with Kendra Halm earning all-freshman honors last season, the Falcons currently have two players on this year's squad that have earned this award.
Also of note, BGSU had three players earn first-team All-MAC honors (Chrissy Gothke, Stephanie Swiger, and Kendra Halm) for the first time since 1992, and combined with Madeline Mean's second-team All-MAC award, it was the first time in school history that four players earned All-MAC status in the same season.
