Bowling Green State University
AKRON
Falcons Come From Behind to Defeat Akron, 3-2
October 10, 2008 | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2008
AKRON, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team came from behind to defeat Akron, 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 28-30, 25-20, 15-9) for their third consecutive win in Mid-American Conference East Division play and their ninth straight victory over the Zips. The Falcons are now 13-6 overall and 3-2 in the MAC, while the Zips fall to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in the MAC.
The first set of the match was a tight the entire time. The Falcons took a 5-3 lead over the Zips after three straight points, including back-to-back kills from Kendra Halm and Kaitlin Jackson but the Zips answered right back with their own three point run. The Zips held on to their small lead over the Falcons as the set remained close with the Falcons not more than two points down. BG was able to string together two three point-runs to eventually take a 16-15 lead over Akron. The Zips fired right back and were able to score more points in a row at the end of the set to win the first set, 25-23.
Down one set, the Falcons came out right away in the second set with an opening block from Meghan Mohr and Shari Luther, but Akron was able to put together three straight points to take a 5-3 lead over the Orange and Brown. The set remained very close but another three point run by the Zips gave Akron a 13-10 lead over the Falcons. The Falcons found their groove and answered right back with their own three point run to tie the set up 13-13 started by a kill from Mohr. Once the Falcons got going they turned up the heat as they scored seven unanswered points, which included two kills from Halm, a kill from Jackson and two service aces from Mohr, to take a 21-16 lead over the Zips. The Zips tried to fight back but a kill from Corey Domek gave the Falcons set point, 24-19. Akron was able to fight off two BG set points but another kill from Domek ended the set, 25-21 tying up the match 1-1.
With the match tied up 1-1, the third set was another close battle between the two teams. The set started off back and forth, but Domek terminated a kill sparking a three-point Falcon run to give the Falcons an 11-8 lead. The Falcons' run included back-to-back double blocks from Luther with teammate Louise Facca joining in on the first block and Mohr helping out on the second. The Falcons maintained their lead extending it to five, 22-17 after another three-point run. Akron continued to fight with four straight points to tie the set up 23-23. A kill from Facca gave the Falcons set point but the Zips came right back to side out and tied the set up 24-24. The score continued to go back and fourth but the Zips took the third set, 30-28.
The Falcons came out strong in the fourth set scoring seven straight unanswered points all started by a kill from Halm, to take a 11-5 lead over the Zips. Akron came right back with their own eight-point run to take a 14-13 lead. The set remained close until the Falcons put together back-to-back three-point runs to recapture the lead, 21-16. The Falcons won the fourth set, 25-20 forcing a fifth and final set.
With the match once again all tied up 2-2 and everything coming down to the fifth and final set the Falcons come out firing with Luther terminating play to give the Falcons the first point. The set remained close until a kill from Mohr sparked five straight points for the Falcons giving BG a 12-4 lead over Akron. The Falcons were able to side out right away and score the last three points of the set. A kill from Jackson ended the set, 15-9 giving the Falcons the win over Akron. The Falcons were on fire in the fifth set scoring eight of the last 10 points, recording 12 kills and only one error in 23 attempts hitting a .478.
"Early in the match Chelsey Meek kept us in the match with great defense," said BGSU assistant coach Mark Hardaway. "In set two Kendra Halm, Corey Domek, and Meghan Mohr started attacking the ball aggressively and got us the win. In set three Domek was on fire with 7 kills in 11 swings but the rest of the team went cold and we dropped the set. In set four both teams struggled offensively but we committed less errors and pulled out the win. And then is set five we turned up the heat and hit .478 (12 kills with just one error). The MAC is very competitive this year and we need to bring our A game every night. We know we will have to bring a more consistent performance to the court if we want to be a contender."
The Falcons had multiple players chipping in on the offensive attack with three players posting double-digit kill performances. Domek led the Falcons with 17 kills, followed by Mohr who was right behind her with 16 on the night. Halm added 13 kills to the BG attack. The Falcons also had two players in double-digits on defense with Chelsey Meek recording 26 digs, only one shy of becoming the first Falcon to ever to record 2,000 career digs. Sam Fish not only recorded 11 digs but she also dished out 50 assists posting her third straight double-double and fourth of the season. Fish has recorded all four of her double-doubles during MAC play.
The Falcons continue their five match road trip as they head to Buffalo tomorrow (Oct. 11) to take on the Bulls at 7:00 p.m. for another MAC East Division showdown.
