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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
VALPARAISO
Falcons Capture the Best Western Invitational Title
September 16, 2007 | Volleyball
Sept. 16, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - BGSU volleyball captured the Best Western Invitational title after beating the Valparaiso University Crusaders and sweeping the tournament. Going into the match both teams were 2-0 in the invitational each beating DePaul University and Duquesne University leaving the title up this match. The Falcons took a little while to get things started but once they did they were unstoppable.
The Crusaders came out strong in game one taking the lead early, which the Falcons wouldn't be able to overcome. The Crusaders dominated game one hitting a .306 compared to the error plagued Falcons with a -.024. The Crusaders took game one 30-18.
Game two was a different story as the Falcons started to put things together. The Falcons took a hold of the lead, 6-3 after a five point run. However the Crusaders continued to fight back the whole game. With the Falcons in the lead 26-20 the Crusaders put together a five point run to come within one, 26-25. The Crusaders squeezed by picking up the win in game two 30-28.
After winning game one and two the Crusaders came out even stronger in game three taking an early lead. With the Falcons down 14-11 the momentum changed after Sam Fish came up with a huge solo stuff block against the Crusader's big out side hitter Angie Porche. The Falcons continued to battle tying the score up 24-24. Both teams fought point for point until a three point Falcon run gave them a 28-26 lead. The Crusader once again tried to battle back but didn't have enough to overcome the Falcons as they won game three, 30-28 off a Stephanie Swiger kill from Fish. The Falcons finally came alive at the net both on offense and defense in game three posting a .364 hitting percentage, recording 19 kills, and getting three blocks to the Crusaders zero.
The Falcons offense continued to grow as they dominated game four hitting a .500 with 18 kills and only two errors and kept the Crusader to a .297. The Falcons won game four 30-23, evening up the match two games to two games.
With everything coming down to game five the Falcons once again were firing on all cylinders. Game five was neck and neck until Kendra Halm provided all the energy the Falcons needed to break away as she punished a ball for a kill from Fish leading to a three point Falcon run. The Falcons put together two more three point runs and won 15-10 to capture the Best Western Tournament Title.
The Falcons had three players in double digits on offense with Swiger leading the way with 22 kills with only one error hitting a .512. Halm put way 19 kills hitting a .359 and Corey Domek recorded 11 kills. Fish had a career high of 52 assists. Meek was everywhere on defense picking up 32 digs followed by Elizabeth Simon with 15 digs.
"Tonight we showed a lot of heart," said BGSU Volleyball Head Coach Denise Van De Walle. "Early in game one I said to Mark that this match will show how much heart and character we really have. It proved that we have it! This was a great win. Swiger and Kendra really carried us offensively. Between the two of them they had 41 of our 68 kills and Kendra had 7 of our 9 blocks. Defensively Chelsey put on a clinic. She was a real difference maker for us in the backrow. We beat a great Valpo team. They are aggressive and never let up. They really stressed us hard and we answered back. That was exactly what we needed tonight...a big win sending us to Miami on Thursday."
The Falcons open their MAC conference schedule on the road against Miami on Thursday (Sept. 20) at 7:00 p.m.
MVP and All-Tournament Falcons
Senior Stephanie Swiger was named MVP of the Best Western Invitational. In the championship match against Valparaiso she led the Falcons totaling a career high, 22 kills in 41 attempts with only one error good for a .512. Swiger also picked up three digs and a block in the match. For the weekend Swiger led the Falcons totaling 34 kills averaging 3.09 a game and hitting a .423, eight blocks, six digs, five aces, and two assists.
Juniors Meghan Mohr and Chelsey Meek were also named to the All-Tournament team for their outstanding play this weekend. Meek recorded 32 digs and one kill in the match against Valparaiso. For the weekend Meek totaled 62 digs averaging 5.64 per game, three aces, two kills, and one assist. Mohr collected eight kills, six digs, four blocks, and four assists against Valparaiso. For the weekend Mohr totaled 24 kills hitting a .368, 18 assists, 10 digs, nine blocks, and two aces.
Best Western Invitational All-Tournament Team
Stephanie Swiger - MVP (Bowling Green)
Meghan Mohr (Bowling Green)
Chelsey Meek (Bowling Green)
Angie Porche (Valparaiso)
Allison Sears (Valparaiso)
Nicole Wright (Duquesne)
Jacie Fiedler (DePaul)
