Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Open MAC Schedule
September 19, 2007 | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2007
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - After three weeks of non-conference competition, BGSU volleyball will open Mid American Conference play on the road against Miami (Ohio), Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m. EST, putting their four match win streak to the test.
The Falcons then return home to host their first MAC game of the season against Northern Illinois on Saturday Sept. 22 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Where they will defend their undefeated record of 4-0 at Anderson Arena.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS
Falcons vs. Red Hawks
BGSU volleyball will open MAC play against East foe Miami University. The Red Hawks are currently 3-6 after going 1-2 at the Hilton Classic (Sept. 7-8) losing to Colorado State (2-3) and Colorado (0-3) and beating Wintrhop (3-2). In their last match on Sept. 12 the Red Hawks fell to Morehead State, 1-3.
The Falcons are on a three game winning streak against the Red Hawks as they swept them last year taking home victories in both of their meetings. The last meeting between the two teams was November 1, 2006, when the Falcons beat the Red Hawks at home, 30-21, 30-18, 31-29.
Falcons vs. Huskies
The Orange and Brown will host their first MAC game of the 2007 season against 2006 MAC West Champions, Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are currently 6-7 after beating Chicago State, 3-0 (Sept. 14) and losing to University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 3-2 (Sept. 18).
The last meeting between the two teams was September 30, 2006, where the Falcons beat the Huskies, 3-2 (22-30, 30-22, 30-20, 28-30, 15-5) on their home court. The win for the Falcons was the 10th victory in their 17 match win streak last season, the longest in school history.
BGSU VOLLEYBALL CAPTURES BES WESTERN INVITATIONAL TITLE
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 to this match. The Falcons took a little while to get things started but once they did they were unstoppable.
The Crusaders came out strong winning game one and two putting the Falcons down 0-2. The Falcons turned things around winning game three, 30-28 off a Stephanie Swiger kill from Sam 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 a career high 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. Chelsey Meek was everywhere on defense picking up 32 digs followed by Elizabeth Simon with 15 digs.
The Falcons not only took the tournament title but also took home three individual honors as well, Swiger was named MVP of the tournament and teammates Meek and Meghan Mohr were both named to the All-Tournament.
SWIGER NAMED MAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Stephanie Swiger, Findlay, Ohio native was named the MAC East Player of the Week after leading the Falcons in their Best Western Invitational championship on Sept. 15.
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, two assists, and 43.0 points.
Swiger was named All-Tournament for the second weekend in a row after being named to the Comcast Lobo All-Tournament Team (Sept. 8-9). Swiger led the Orange and Brown's offense in their 3-0 victory against Northern Colorado. She put away 16 kills with only two hitting errors for a .483 hitting percentage. Swiger was also in double digits on offense against Gonzaga with 10 kills. Last weekend Swiger totaled 32 kills hitting a .296, the second highest for the Falcons. Swiger also recorded 40.5 points, 15 blocks, seven digs, and two assists at the Comcast Lobo Invitational.
This is Swiger's fourth time being named MAC East Player of the Week as she was named to this honor twice last season as a junior and once as a sophomore. Swiger was named first team All-MAC and All-Academic last year.
BEST WESTERN INVITE MVP
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.
ALL-TOURNEY FALCONS
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. This is Meek's second time being named All-Tournament this season, her first was at the Cal State Fullerton Invitational. 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.
450 IN SIGHT FOR COACH VAN DE WALLE
After a great weekend of Falcon volleyball sweeping the Best Western Invitational and capturing the tournament title Coach Van De Walle earned her 449th career win and is now in reach of another career milestone by recording her 450th win.
FALCONS UNDFEATED AT HOME
After winning their home tournament the Falcons remain undefeated at Anderson Arena this season posting a 4-0 record.
MEEK PULLS RANK
Junior Chelsey Meek is ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA for digs per game with 5.6 digs per game.
Meek has also put her name in the elite AVCA 30-Dig Club twice this season thus far recording 34 digs against Dayton (Aug. 25) and 32 digs in the Falcons' championship victory over Valparaiso (Sept. 15).
Meek has not only made national rankings but has moved to fourth in career digs totalling 1,269 digs, after her 32 dig match against Valparaiso (Sept. 15) passing Linda Popovich (1986-89) at 1,247 career digs.
FALCONS IN MAC LEADER BOARD
BGSU volleyball is ranked second in the MAC for hitting percentages hitting a .235.
The Falcons have four individuals in the MAC leader board this week. Senior Stephanie Swiger moved up the leader board and is ranked fourth in hitting percentages in the MAC with a .313 hitting percentage totaling 139 kills. Sophomore Corey Domek is ranked sixth in hitting percentages hitting a .301 with 161 kills.
Junior Chelsey Meek also moved up the rankings, now second in the MAC for digs with 5.71 digs per game totaling 274 digs.
Junior Kendra Halm is ranked fifth in the MAC in blocks with 1.0 blocks per game totaling 48 blocks this season.
25 YEARS FOR COACH VAN DE WALLE
BGSU Head Volleyball Coach Denise Van De Walle will be honored for her 25th year as head coach of the Falcons in a short ceremony after the volleyball team hosts the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday Sept. 22.
FALCON DOUBLE-HEADER
Falcon athletics will be hosting a double-header this weekend Saturday, September 22. The first game of the double-header will kick off at 12:00 p.m. when Falcon football takes on the Temple Owls in their home opener. The second game of the double-header starts at 4:00 p.m. in Anderson Arena when Falcon volleyball defends their undefeated home court against the Northern Illinois Huskies. There will be FREE admission to the volleyball game for all Falcon Fans who show the stub of their ticket from the football game.
