Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Open 2007 Season at Flyer Classic
August 22, 2007 | Volleyball
Aug. 22, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
Volleyball Game Notes at Dayton Flyer Classic
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The BGSU volleyball team will open their 2007 campaign this weekend at the Dayton Flyer Classic. After a record breaking 2006 season, with a 17 game win streak, head coach Denise Van De Walle and the Falcons look to pick up where they left off last season.
The Falcons will play three matches this weekend opening against the University of Illinois on Friday (Aug. 24) at 4:30 p.m. at the Fredricks Center in Dayton, Ohio. Then on Saturday, (Aug. 25) the Brown and Orange will take on tournament host University of Dayton at 11:00 a.m. and finish up with IPFW at 5:00 p.m.
FLYER CLASSIC MATCHUPS
Falcons vs. Fighting Illini
The BGSU volleyball team will open their first match of the 2007 schedule against the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, playing each other for the very first time. The Big Ten opponent was ranked eigth in their preseason poll after a .500. 15-15, 2006 season. The Fighting Illini are returning nine letterwinners, including senior middle-hitter Vicky Brown who was named to the Preseason Big-Ten Team.
Falcons vs. Flyers
The Falcons are looking to continue their success against the University of Dayton Flyers on their home court as they lead the all-time series 13-6. The Flyers were 22-11 last season with a first place regular season finish in the Atlantic-10. Dayton was picked to finish second in the Atlantic-10 Preseason Poll and will be returning 10 letterwinners, including five of their starters.
The last meeting between the Falcons and the Flyers was during the 2005 season where the Falcons defeated the Flyers at Anderson Arena, 3-1.
Falcons vs. Mastodons
Bowling Green has their sights set on the Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne Mastodons and evening up the all-times series. The Mastodons have a one game lead on the Falcons in the series 4-5. IPFW was 26-10 last season and look to be a threat in the Summit League as they were picked to win their first conference championship in the preseason poll. The Mastodons will be returning 10 letterwinners, including four starters.
In last year's meeting the Falcons defeated the Mastodons, 3-1. Defense was a key role in the win with Falcons totaling 14 blocks and 97 digs. Chelsey Meek had 28 digs and Kendra Halm added seven blocks in the Falcon victory.
FALCONS HOME OPENER
The Brown and Orange open their home schedule against non-conference opponent Oakland University Golden Grizzlies on Tuesday (Aug. 28) at 7:00 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
MAC POLL RELEASED
The BGSU volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference, receiving one first place vote. The conference released the 2007 preseason poll on Wednesday, August 15, which was voted on by the MAC's head coaches.
The Falcons were seeded below defending MAC Champions Ohio in the East Division. After a second place finish to Ohio as the conference championship last year the Falcons are looking to turn the tables this season.
A STRONG TRADITION
The 2007 season marks the 32nd campaign of varsity volleyball at BGSU. Over the first 31 years of the program, the Falcons have an overall record of 539-419-3, for a winning percentage of .562.
TOP OF THE CLASS
Head Coach Denise Van De Walle enters her 25th season at the helm of the Falcons, and is the winningest mentor in MAC history with 441 career victories for the Brown and Orange. In conference play, she has 206 total wins to place third all-time.
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.
FRESH FALCONS
Bowling Green State University volleyball head coach Denise Van De Walle has added two new players to the 2006 roster. Sam Fish (North Branch) and Alex Zlabis (Wheaton Warrenville South) will join the Falcons for the 2007 season.
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 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 last season, the Falcons 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.
